Albert Edward Wang (1864–1930) - Sunset off the Coast of Hellerup

Albert Edward Wang (1864-1930) Denmark

Sunset off the Coast of Hellerup

oil on canvas, c. 1910-1920
signed AWang
unframed 26 x 80 cm (10 ¼ x 31 ½ in)
framed 40 x 93 cm (15 ¾ x 36 ½ in)


A spectacular sunset unfolds off the coast of Hellerup in this oil painting by Albert Edward Wang. The sky is awash in vibrant hues of gold and rose, the low sun illuminating bands of clouds and tinting the calm Øresund waters below. Gentle waves reflect the fiery twilight glow, creating a shimmering path of light across the sea. In the foreground, a cluster of small sailing boats drifts on the tranquil water, their sails silhouetted against the radiant horizon. Wang composes the scene with a low horizon line and expansive sky, balancing the glistening sea and dramatic heavens to heighten the atmospheric effect. The result is a dramatic interplay of light, sky, and water, capturing the fleeting brilliance of dusk with remarkable clarity and mood.

Albert Edward (Edvard) Wang (1864–1930) was a Danish landscape painter renowned for his marine and coastal scenes. He trained in Copenhagen under the celebrated artists P.S. Krøyer and Kristian Zahrtmann, an education that honed his keen eye for natural light. Wang painted throughout Denmark – especially the shores of North Zealand – and favored subjects drawn from the seaside near his hometown of Horsens and his later residence in Hellerup. He painted only landscapes, often depicting serene evening moods and sunsets, a signature style evident in this work’s luminous sky and reflective waters. A regular exhibitor at the prestigious Charlottenborg Spring Exhibitions between 1889 and 1911, Wang was an important proponent of Denmark’s landscape painting tradition in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His paintings, with their atmospheric lighting and tranquil compositions, celebrate the natural beauty of the Danish coast – here exemplified by the glowing Hellerup sunset and the silhouetted sailing boats gently punctuating the horizon.

Provenance
From the collection of Erik Ekegren (1928–2022). Over the years, Ekegren became one of Sweden’s foremost experts on marine painting, assembling a collection of nearly 300 works.