Hansen-Aarslev was educated at School of Prince Ferdinand from 1870-72, and then at the Royal Academy of Arts in 1878, Later he was a pupil at the School of Léon Bonnats in Paris from 1878-1881. Hansen-Aarslev begun his carrier as a landscape painter and worked especially on farm landscapes. His works were considered very promising and he received many sponsorships, and so was finally accepted to the Royal Academy of Arts. Hansen-Aarslev came from a humble background and his own parents were against him working with art, which they considered foolish and a waste of time. However nothing could stop Hansen-Aarslev and he continued working. In 1878 Hansen-Aarslev was accepted at the esteemed school of Leon Bonnat in Paris. There he worked together with P.A Schou and Hans Nik Hansen. In Hansen-Aarslev later years he worked especially with portraits and figure scenes. Which were considered very sensitive and full of emotions. Like many passion filled artists Hansen-Aarslev had a powerful temper and was extremely sensitive – so much so, that when he met and fell in love with Norwegian artist Kitty Kielland and she did not want him, he quickly moved to a remote farmhouse at the country. The heartbreak crippled him for life and he never participated in exhibitions nor wanted to take part in the art industry again. Very little is known about the last 20 years of Hansen-Aarslev. He never talked to his few neighbors and every one who tried to contact him was chased away from his house. Some few witnesses like the local police occasionally forced their way in to check the health of the artist. Their reports were shocking! One reported finding the artist dressed in old newspapers and wearing a self-made calfskin wig he had glued on his balding head. Another saw him out working the fields wearing a old sack around his waist and wearing tights and socks around his neck as a scarf. His house was filled with crippled animals he had adopted and was taking care of. Among them was a one-legged Hen and a 3 legged dog. Hansen-Aarslev never stopped painting however, since it was reported that his house was packed with paintings everywhere. But one was not allowed to buy them or touch them. If they did they were chased away from the house. The love Hansen-Aarslev had for the Norwegian artist Kitty Kielland never stopped. In 1928 the police came a final time to take him to the hospital and found him lying on the ground next to a newly painted portrait of his beloved Kitty. When the police touched him he whispered “my beloved, I will soon be near you” Hansen-Aarslev used his last strength to try to fight of the police and insisted to walk with no help to the ambulance waiting outside for him. The police finally agreed and let Hansen-Aarslev walk alone down the road until he weakly reached the ambulance and died.
Auction Prices:
Jens Hansen-Aarslev is listed in artprice.com were an oil was sold for $1,711.
(Nelleman&Thomsen. 25-04-90. Lot no: 24)
Øbro Art Gallery 