The artistic career of Emilie Mundt began in earnest only when she reached the age of thirty. Despite an early career in education, she transitioned to fine arts by enrolling at the Painting School for Women in Copenhagen, eventually establishing herself as a painter within the Kingdom of Denmark who specialized in portraits of children.
Early Education and Artistic Formation
Born in Sorø in 1842, Mundt was the daughter of Carl Emil Mundt, a mathematics professor at the Sorø Academy. Following the death of her mother when she was three, the family relocated to Copenhagen. She attended N. Zahle's School and earned qualifications to serve as a private tutor in 1861. Her drawing teacher, Frederik Helsted, recognized her aptitude for illustration, leading her to accept a position as a writing and drawing instructor at the same institution.
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Her pursuit of formal artistic training began at the Painting School for Women, managed by Vilhelm Kyhn, where she formed a lifelong partnership with Marie Luplau. After failing to secure admission to the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1875, she followed the guidance of Elisabeth Jerichau-Baumann to study under Eilif Peterssen in Munich. Later, between 1882 and 1884, she attended the Académie Colarossi in Paris. During this time, the stylistic approaches of Jules Breton and Jules Bastien-Lepage significantly impacted her work, prompting her to document the lives of impoverished children and peasant populations, particularly while visiting an art colony in Pont-Aven, Brittany.
Professional Impact and Advocacy
In 1886, Mundt and Luplau founded a private painting school for women in Frederiksberg, which remained active until 1913. Beyond her teaching and creative output, Mundt was an active participant in political movements, specifically campaigning for women's suffrage. Her commitment to professional representation for her peers continued into her later years; in 1916, she became an inaugural member of the Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund. Mundt died in 1922 at the age of 80 in Frederiksberg. Decades after her death, her work received renewed institutional attention, notably in a 2007 retrospective at the Women's Museum in Aarhus and a 2021 exhibition at the Hirschsprung Collection.
Fast facts
- Born: 1842, Sorø, Denmark
- Died: 1922, Frederiksberg, Denmark
- Primary Occupation: Painter
- Education: Académie Colarossi
- Notable Partner: Marie Luplau
- Adopted Daughter: Carla
- Field of Study: Portraits of children and peasant life
Questions readers ask
Where did Emilie Mundt receive her art training?
She studied at the Painting School for Women in Copenhagen, with Eilif Peterssen in Munich, and at the Académie Colarossi in Paris.
What specific subjects did she frequently paint?
She was known for her portraits of children and scenes depicting the lives of peasants.
