Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund (KKS) or Society of Female Artists is a Danish organization which strives to enable women to work as professional artists on equal terms with their male counterparts. KKS was founded by the painters

Marie Henriques Marie Henriques (26 June 1866 – 12 January 1944) was a Danish painter who created landscapes, figure paintings and portraits, initially in the Realist style but increasingly under the influence of Impressionism. She also painted watercolours of ...

and Helvig Kinch on 7 February 1916. With the support of the painter Anna Ancher and the sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen, 75 artists attended the inaugural meeting. Today the organization has over 250 members.

History

Around 1915, Denmark's female artists began to realize that they needed to club together if they were to enjoy the same opportunities as their male counterparts. of (Society of Swedish Female Artists) which had been founded in 1910 provided Helvig Kinch with background information and advice to assist her in her efforts to establish a similar organization in Denmark. Together with the painter Marie Henriques and the sculptor Anne Marie Carl-Nielsen, she drafted an invitation which established the basic objectives of the planned organization. These were aimed above all at facilitating opportunities for women to exhibit their work. The invitation explained that this would be achieved by liaising with those responsible for exhibitions in Denmark and abroad, ensuring that women were included in the corresponding committees and juries, and encouraging both men and women to support the interests of female artists. Endorsed by 25 female artists, the invitation was sent out to women involved in art and craftmanship who had exhibited publicly on at least three occasions. As a result, at the organization's inaugural meeting on 7 February 1916, 75 women signed up as members of the KKS. Many of the earlier members experienced considerable difficulties. Anna Ancher and several of her colleagues were wary of being considered "women artists" if they became too involved in achieving equal rights. They were concerned first and foremost by their artwork, keen to be judged side-by-side with male artists.

Recent developments

With the publication in 2014 of ''100 års øjeblikke : Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund'', presenting key events over the past 100 years, the organization was able to highlight several women artists who had been forgotten while highlighting the difficulties women artists faced in striving to enhance their status. Today the organization continues to ensure that the works of women artists, including those working in craftmanship, are treated on an equal basis with those of men. Thanks to the 2014 anthology, in collaboration with professionals and other organizations, KKS hopes to contribute to the history of art by revealing significant female artists who have been forgotten.

Presidents of Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund

As listed in ''100 års øjeblikke : Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund'' and at KKS: * 1916-1918 Helvig Kinch, painter and sculptor * 1918-1920

, painter * 1920-1921

Agnes Lunn Agnes Cathinka Wilhelmine Lunn (16 March 1850 – 12 December 1941) was a Danish painter and sculptor. Biography Lunn was born as a daughter to Villars Knudsen L. and Frederikke Amalie Hagen at Rønnebæksholm. She drew horses as a child and was ...

, sculptor * 1921-1924

Sophie Pedersen Sophie Petrine Pedersen (15 January 1885 – 1 October 1950) was a Danish painter. She specialized in landscapes, including scenes of Copenhagen's streets and parks, but also created portraits and figure paintings. From 1921 to 1924, she headed ...

, painter * 1924-1954

Elisabeth Neckelmann Elisabeth Neckelmann (1884–1956) was a Danish painter. Her early associations with the Funen Painters influenced her work which consisted mainly of flower paintings and landscapes but also included portraits. From 1924 to 1954, she headed the D ...

, painter * 1954-1992 Gudrun Poulsen, painter * 1992-2000

Inger Lut Debois Inger Merete Lut Debois née Andersen (1931–2015) was a Danish painter. She is remembered for her works with interacting figures which became increasingly abstract as she matured. In 1992, Debois decorated the IC3 train "Thyra Danebod". From 1992 ...

, painter * 2000-2010 Lise Ring, sculptor * 2010-2019 Kit Kjærbye, sculptor * 2019- Lise Seier Petersen, ceramist

References

External links

Official website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kvindelige Kunstneres Samfund Art societies Organizations based in Copenhagen Women's organizations based in Denmark 1916 establishments in Denmark Arts organizations established in 1916 Danish artist groups and collectives Art and design-related professional associations