Portrait of a Founder

Portrait of a Founder. The Story of Wilhelm Hansen and Ordrupgaard tells the story of Danish insurance director and art collector Wilhelm Hansen (1868–1936). Drawing on the Ordrupgaard museum’s extensive collection of photographs, letters and not least art, the book paints a vivid portrait of the man behind Ordrupgaard and his wife, Henny (1870–1951). How did their lives unfold? And how did they build the splendid art collection now on display at Ordrupgaard in North Zealand, Denmark?

Anne-Birgitte Fonsmark (b. 1950) was director of Ordrupgaard from 1995 to 2023. The author and editor of many books on art, she has also curated major exhibitions such as Van Gogh, Gauguin, Bernard. Friction of Ideas (2014), At Home with Hammershøi (2016) and Anna and Michael Ancher. Together and Separately (2023).