Poul Simon Christiansen

Poul Simon Christiansen, frequently referred to as Poul S. Christiansen, was a Danish painter who developed a Colourist style under Kristian Zahrtmann and as a result of his appreciation of the works of Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh. He painted landscapes and religious works, many of which became popular as reproductions. He was trained by his father as a windmill builder, but he pursued his passion for art by studying at Zahrtmann's Artists Studio School. He travelled to Italy on several occasions and stayed with Zahrtmann in Civita d'Antino. He also visited Greenland, Egypt, and the Danish West Indies, and created many paintings inspired by his observations. He met considerable opposition and it was only with Zahrtmann's support that he was able to exhibit at Den Frie Udstilling in 1895. However, he was not widely recognized until his works were exhibited retrospectively in 1910. He was awarded the Thorvaldsen Medal in 1923. He died in Helsingør in 1933.