Portrait of a Lady by Ejnar Hansen, Oil on Canvas P3559

Portrait of a Lady, by Ejnar Hansen (1884–1965), oil on canvas, circa 1920. A striking early portrait by the Danish-American artist, depicting a woman in three-quarter view against a rich reddish-brown ground. Hansen combines strong, simplified forms with expressive brushwork, giving the sitter a quiet, introspective presence. The dark floral-patterned dress and warm, muted palette further emphasize the painting’s early 20th-century character.

Born in Copenhagen, Hansen studied at the Royal Academy of Art before immigrating to the United States in 1914. He eventually settled in Pasadena, California, where he became an important figure in the Southern California art community. His work encompassed portraiture, landscapes, still lifes, and figure studies, and his paintings are represented in the collections of the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and Laguna Art Museum.

Hansen’s portraits are particularly noted for their psychological sensitivity and modernist approach to form. This early work, dating to circa 1920, reflects the darker, more restrained palette associated with his earlier period, before his colors brightened following his move to California.

Art measures 20.5" x 22.5", in frame 26" x 28"