Harvest in Italy

Aage Bertelsen's "Harvest in Italy" transports us to the sun-drenched landscapes that captivated the Danish painter throughout his career. Born in Næstved, Bertelsen was immersed in art from an early age, tutored by his father Rudolf Bertelsen and family friend L.A. Ring. His artistic journey took him to Zahrtmann's art school and, significantly, to Italy in 1897 with Zahrtmann himself. This early exposure to the Italian countryside clearly left a lasting impression, as evidenced by this 1913 work. While Bertelsen is also known for his participation in the Denmark Expedition to North-East Greenland and his subsequent landscape paintings of Denmark, "Harvest in Italy" allows us to appreciate his skill in capturing the warmth and activity of a Mediterranean scene. The painting likely reflects his memories and artistic interpretations of the Italian light and agricultural life he experienced during his travels. As a landscape painter who later settled in Birkerød, Bertelsen consistently sought to render the essence of the natural world, whether it was the stark beauty of Greenland or the pastoral charm of Italy.