24 Facts About Emil Carlsen

Soren Emil Carlsen was an American Impressionist painter who emigrated to the United States from Denmark.

Later in his career, Carlsen expanded his range of subjects to include landscapes and seascapes as well.

Emil Carlsen was born and raised in the Danish capital of Copenhagen.

Emil Carlsen's mother painted, and by some accounts, his cousin, who was an influence on him, later became the director of the Danish Royal Academy He studied architecture at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen for four years and then emigrated to the United States in 1872, settling in Chicago, United States.

Emil Carlsen made rapid progress and was appointed the first teacher of drawing and painting at the Chicago Academy of Design, Carlsen sought more training and embarked for Paris in 1875, where he came under the influence of the French still life painter Jean-Baptiste-Simeon Chardin.

Emil Carlsen returned to New York and again struggled to sell his paintings.

In 1885 Emil Carlsen had two works accepted for the Paris Salon.

Emil Carlsen became friends with Arthur Mathews, who taught at the School of Design and was the leading figure in the Bay Area Arts and Crafts Movement.

Emil Carlsen then moved on to teach privately at the San Francisco Art Students League until 1891.

In 1891, just prior to his departure, Emil Carlsen created a firestorm by openly declaring in one of San Francisco's leading newspapers that art education was wasted on women who were inferior pupils without self-confidence and who were expected to become school teachers and marry.

Emil Carlsen moved back to the East from California in 1891, and began a long career of teaching in the East.

Emil Carlsen taught at the National Academy of Design, at the student-founded Art Student's League, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Emil Carlsen sketched in Connecticut in the early 1900s, visiting his friend Weir in Branchville, Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Emil Carlsen had solo exhibitions at Macbeth in 1912,1919 and 1921 and 1923.

Emil Carlsen received the Samuel T Shaw Purchase Prize at the National Academy of Design.

Emil Carlsen was a sought after teacher and financial necessity drove him to teach more than he wanted, taking time away from his painting.

Emil Carlsen taught the life class at the National Academy of Design from 1905 to 1909.

Emil Carlsen commuted from New York to Philadelphia to lecture at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts for many years.

Emil Carlsen married Luela Mary Ruby in 1896 and the couple moved into his 59th Street studio, where they made their home for the remainder of their lives.

Emil Carlsen's mother taught him scholastic subjects and his father instructed him in art.

Emil Carlsen was close friends with Julian Alden Weir, John Twachtman and Childe Hassam.

In 1908, Emil Carlsen published an article on still life painting for the now obscure art journal Palette and Bench where he wrote of the low status of still lifes:.

Emil Carlsen is unquestionably the most accomplished master of still-life painting in America today.

Emil Carlsen was attracted to the beauties of the rolling hills and interpreted them in soft, pastel tones.