"Grusgrav", Mid Century Modern Danish Color-Field Abstract in Yellow, 36/80 by Frede Christoffersen

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"Grusgrav", a wonderfully minimal yet expressive mid century modern abstract limited edition hand signed lithograph by Frede Christoffersen (Danish, 1919-1987). … Read more "Grusgrav", a wonderfully minimal yet expressive mid century modern abstract limited edition hand signed lithograph by Frede Christoffersen (Danish, 1919-1987). This 1962 color-field abstract features a subdued palette of earthy golden rod yellows and sage, the geometric areas of color divided into fractured shapes with organic and expressive texture. Grusgrav, the title of the piece, is Danish for gravel pit.

Titled "Grusgrav", signed with the artist's initials "FC" and dated "62" lower right. Numbered "36/80" lower left.
Signed "Frede Christoffersen" on verso.
Official Org. U.M. Grafik warranty certificate stamp on verso.
Displayed in a vintage painted wood frame.
Image size: 11.5"H x 17"W.

Another lithograph print of "Grusgrav" from the same edition, number 44/80, is included in the collection of the Fuglsang Art Museum (Fuglsang Kunstmuseum) on the island of Lolland in Denmark.


Born in Borup, Denmark, outside out Copenhagen. Christoffersen spent a short period at the Copenhagen Arts and Crafts School before travelling to the Far East in 1940-41. The result was his 20 "Smaa sorte Tegninger" published in 1941. From 1942 to 1943, he studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, both at the graphic arts school and at the school of painting, under Aksel Jørgensen and Vilhelm Lundstrøm. In the early 1940s, he began to illustrate books including "Nis Petersen's Digte" (Poems) in 1942 and Ester Nagel's "Mennesker" (People, 1943). He also created colored woodcuts and produced book covers and posters but finally decided to concentrate on painting.

His Aften, Lumsås (1952), a Surrealistic depiction of the sun in solid colors of yellow-green, yellow, maroon, bright green and deep blue is typical of his painting style and is one of many works with the sun as the motif. He also created images of the night in dark tones with the moon's pale cool light. Many of his works were in small formats but he also produced larger paintings, as in his wall decorations for Copenhagen's De Danske Spritfabrikker (1956) and for Askov Højskole (1957). Like his wife Agnete Bjerre, he frequently exhibited his work at Den Frie Udstilling.

In 1965, Frede Christoffersen was awarded the Eckersberg Medal and, in 1986, the Thorvaldsen Medal. See less