Kunsthaus Zürich Opens First Swiss Retrospective of Vilhelm Hammershøi
Kunsthaus Zürich has opened 'Vilhelm Hammershøi. The Eye That Listens', the first museum retrospective in Switzerland devoted to the Danish painter (1864–1916). The exhibition, on view through 25 October 2026, brings together his sparse interiors, silent cityscapes, portraits, and landscapes, highlighting his subtle color gradations and the 'furniture-like silence' of his compositions. Known as the 'Vermeer of the North', Hammershøi often depicted empty rooms and figures from behind, focusing on light and mood. Curated by Jonas Beyer and Sandra Gianfreda, the show is organized in cooperation with the Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza in Madrid. It also includes works by Jacobus Vrel, Adolph Menzel, and Michaël Borremans to contextualize the theme of silence. A catalogue in German and English is available for CHF 52.
The Signal
For collectors, this retrospective offers a rare chance to see Hammershøi's work in depth outside Denmark, with a new emphasis on the musical dimension of his paintings—he was an amateur cellist. By juxtaposing him with artists from Vrel to Borremans, Kunsthaus Zürich signals a growing curatorial interest in the psychological and atmospheric qualities of late 19th-century painting. The backing from multiple foundations reflects sustained market attention to an artist whose works have achieved strong auction results.
- Artists: Vilhelm Hammershøi
- People: Jonas Beyer, Sandra Gianfreda
- Museums: Kunsthaus Zürich, Museo Nacional Thyssen-Bornemisza
- Locations: Zurich, Madrid
- Prices: CHF 52
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