Søndergaard had a long strong friendship with the artist L.A Ring. That friendship influenced Søndergaards art a great deal and like L.A Ring he concentrated on realism in Danish nature scenes rather than making over-romanticised landscapes. Søndergaard was ahead of his time. The realism in Søndergaards art was not popular in the beginning and he was refused to attend the Royal Art Academy and was ridiculed. However later Søndergaard managed to gain a great reputation as an artist and the Academy had no choice but accept him in the end. The Academy even made a special exhibition in 1905 with the landscapes they originally refused and ridiculed. (Søndergaard must have had a great laugh out of that.) Søndergaard is especially known for his winter scenes that became well known for their detailed and naturalistic portray of the long Danish winter months. Søndergaard is known to make winter scenes painted with dark blue and gray colors with great details and simplicity. Søndergaard also worked as a drawing teacher from 1903-1915 at Roskilde Peoples College and Roskilde Technical School, both in Denmark.
Education:
Educated at the Royal Art Academy in 1900.
Attended the Art School of Zartmann from 1900-1902
Exhibitions:
Special exhibition of former refused art of the Royal Art Academy: 1905
Charlottenborg: 1915- 1984.
The Artists Fall Exhibition: 1901-1916
Danish Art Exhibition, Oslo. Norway: 1946
The Art gallery of Christian Larsen: 1914 and 1929
The Art Gallery of Anton Hansen: 1917 and 1920
Kunst Hallen: 1940
The Artists Union: 1952
Memorial Exhibition: 1984
Travels abroad:
Germany, Austria and Italy: 1903, 1922, 1927 and 1949
Auction prices:
Ole Søndergaard is listed in artprice.com and has been sold for $500.
(William Doyle, New York. 06-06-2001. Lot No: 62)
Øbro Art Gallery 