Studier til "Ixion" 1879 - 1910

Oluf Hartmann created these studies for "Ixion" with ink on paper, sometime before his death in 1910. The sketches depict the mythological figure of Ixion, punished by Zeus to an eternity bound to a flaming, ever-spinning wheel. Hartmann was a Danish artist working in a period where mythological and historical subjects were often used to explore contemporary social and political themes. The story of Ixion, eternally punished for his transgressions, could be seen as a commentary on social justice, or perhaps the rigid class structures of the time. The raw, unfinished quality of these sketches only intensifies the feeling of struggle and despair. In searching the archives, we can contextualize the artist’s life and training within the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts and see the influences of academic tradition. Further study might reveal clues about how audiences in the early 20th century might have viewed this image of unending torment.