Tusnelda Sanders ,born Frida Nielsen in 1894 in Copenhagen, Denmark [1] was a primitivist painter, active 1930s-1970s in Cagnes-sur-mer, Cote d’Azur, France. [2] She died there in 1978. [34]
Her works were sold in New York City galleries starting in 1944, some western USA venues in the 1970s, as well as in Cagnes-sur Mer until her death. She is also known as the sitter for ''Portrait of Tusnelda Sanders'' (1928) by fellow Dane Vilhelm Lundstrøm, then living in the painters' colony in Cagnes-sur-mer. [3] [4]
Her works were sold in New York City galleries starting in 1944, some western USA venues in the 1970s, as well as in Cagnes-sur Mer until her death. She is also known as the sitter for ''Portrait of Tusnelda Sanders'' (1928) by fellow Dane Vilhelm Lundstrøm, then living in the painters' colony in Cagnes-sur-mer. [3] [4]
Stella Bowen, Australian portrait artist and ex-wife of Ford Madox Ford, described her month-long stay of 1936 with Ross Sanders and Tusnelda in her 1941 memoir, Drawn From Life. [5] There, she painted at least three depictions of Tusnelda’s life there, including Tusnelda's oil portrait. [6] [7]
CAREER
Tusnelda Sanders is known for her primitive landscape and village-scape paintings, chiefly depicting Cagnes-sur-mer, carried out in egg-tempera paint on masonite sheets. She signed her work Tusnelda. Little is known about art she made in Cagnes-sur-mer before WWII -- Journiac claims she began painting in 1938. [34] She was listed as "artiste, peintre" on her wedding certificate, March 20, 1941. [8] In April 1941, she and husband Ross escaped Nazi France, sailed from Lisbon to New York City, [9] and lived among artists in Greenwich Village for the duration of the war. She worked in Harold Ambellan's Designed Tiles silkscreen studio along with other artists in exile and learned about Americans' taste for primitive and outsider art.[10]
CAREER
Tusnelda Sanders is known for her primitive landscape and village-scape paintings, chiefly depicting Cagnes-sur-mer, carried out in egg-tempera paint on masonite sheets. She signed her work Tusnelda. Little is known about art she made in Cagnes-sur-mer before WWII -- Journiac claims she began painting in 1938. [34] She was listed as "artiste, peintre" on her wedding certificate, March 20, 1941. [8] In April 1941, she and husband Ross escaped Nazi France, sailed from Lisbon to New York City, [9] and lived among artists in Greenwich Village for the duration of the war. She worked in Harold Ambellan's Designed Tiles silkscreen studio along with other artists in exile and learned about Americans' taste for primitive and outsider art.[10]
Her first solo exhibition in New York City, at the Bonestell Gallery in May 1944, was recognized and praised by the press. A 1944 New York Times review of her this exhibition claimed that she took up painting during her wartime exile in New York City.[11] Another critic writing of the same exhibition wrote:
"Tusnelda Sanders who signs her work with her first name only recently executed her first painting, a
delightful Portrait of a House sitting cosily amid a tapestry of flowering gardens and trees.
Encouraged by the enthusiasm of all who saw the picture, Mrs. Sanders continued
to paint and [this] exhibition resulted..."[12]
New York Times art critic, Howard DeVries, said of her paintings in her first painting exhibition:
“Sophisticatedly artless paintings by Tusnelda, at the Bonestell, hark back to the Victorian “modern primitive” in their
appeal. Amusing fantasy and sly humor blend in the work.” [13]
Bonestell Gallery exhibited her paintings again in the Spring of 1945[14][15] and 1946. While the subjects of her paintings remain undocumented, three locales are known: Provincetown and New England themes as well as those from France.[16]
Upon her return to Cagnes-sur-mer after World War II, she would ship her Cagnes-themed tempera paintings to galleries in New York City. The Cober Gallery of New York held yearly exhibits in the 1960s.[17][18][19] [20] [21]In the 1970s her work was sold in California and Arizona.[22] She sold paintings in Cagnes and also contributed them to fundraisers. In the 1966’s UNICEF used her paintings on gift cards and appointment calendars. (For other sales and exhibition venues, see below, Exhibitions.)
PERSONAL LIFE
Born Freda Nielsen in Copenhagen, Denmark on October 26, 1894 (also cited as 1895) to Thyra (Marie Bachmann) and Carl Christian Edvard Nielsen. [1] She married a visiting Danish-American agricultural student, Harald H. Foght Moeller, in 1916,[23] and returned with him to Ord, Nebraska, where she lived three years on the Moeller family farm. They had two children, Berte and Sigurd, with whom she returned to Denmark in 1919 to visit her ailing mother but did not return to the marriage.
|
In the 1920s, Frida Nielsen Moeller followed her Danish friends, painter Vilhelm Lundstrøm and wife Yrsa Hansen, to the artist colony Cagnes-sur-mer, near Nice. There in the 1920s she met the American artist Roswell(Ross or Sandy) Sanders, a recipient of the Croix de Guerre in recognition of bravery driving ambulance in 1916 for the American Field Service.[24] They married in Cagnes in March 1941 prior to fleeing Europe to New York City.[25]
|
Frida Nielsen Moeller (Tusnelda) purchased the house at 6 Place Grimaldi in Haut-Cagnes in the 1920s. [26] She and Ross converted the stable to a suite for paying guests, usually artists and writers on sojourn. As described in several books by guests using this lodging, they were not allowed in the lodging during the day so as not to disturb the artist-couple using it as a studio.[27]
|
Two paintings of 1936 by Stella Bown depicting Tusnelda and Ross Sanders' place: "The White Steps" and "Interior," their guest suite made from a stable. |
A Danish-language cookbook of 1957 about artists living in the Mediterranean was entitled "Make It Easy As Tusnelda". It was illustrated by her and included several of her recipes served up to guests over the years.[28] Number 6 Place Grimaldi remained their home until her death. Today the Sanders’ living room is part of deluxe lodgings at the Chateau Le Cagnard.[29]
Her adoption of the name Tusnelda, the Nordic heroine, awaits explanation. Her children Berte and Sigurd Moeller divided their time between Denmark and Cagnes. Sigurd had preceded their wartime escape to New York City, landing in 1938.[30]
Ross and Tusnelda participated in the high-spirited social life of Cagnards: extravagant yearly costume balls, art exhibitions, leisurely patio lunches and large dinner parties, a lifestyle described by Michel Gaudet.[31]
Roswell Sanders predeceased her in Cagnes-sur-mer 1967. [32]; Tusnelda continued to paint and died there in1978.
Her adoption of the name Tusnelda, the Nordic heroine, awaits explanation. Her children Berte and Sigurd Moeller divided their time between Denmark and Cagnes. Sigurd had preceded their wartime escape to New York City, landing in 1938.[30]
Ross and Tusnelda participated in the high-spirited social life of Cagnards: extravagant yearly costume balls, art exhibitions, leisurely patio lunches and large dinner parties, a lifestyle described by Michel Gaudet.[31]
Roswell Sanders predeceased her in Cagnes-sur-mer 1967. [32]; Tusnelda continued to paint and died there in1978.
arhis
CURRENT REVIVAL
There is a revival of interest in the paintings and life of Tusnelda Sanders.
There is a steady sales of her paintings since early 2000s, mostly in North America where her paintings were originally sold in North America starting in 1944.[35][36][37][38][39]
The art historical monograph on the ceramic art of Carol Janeway discusses Tusnelda's art career during her New York sojourn, during World War II.[40]
To date only one painting by Tusnelda is in a permanent collection:
Tusnelda Sanders. "Cueillette des oliviers," Chateau- Musee Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-mer. donated by the artist in 1958.
In 2001, Cagnard writer Michel Gaudet described the artists’ lives in Cagnes-sur-mer in the 1930 to 1980 period in his book, full of period photographs.
In 2011, the large retrospective of Cagnard painters at the Château-Musée Grimaldi, Haut-de-Cagnes, included at least one of her paintings.[33] The detailed companion exhibition catalog of this retrospective included a one-page essay on her and reproduced the museums's one painting by her: "Cueillette des oliviers", gift of the artists, 1958. [34]
CURRENT REVIVAL
There is a revival of interest in the paintings and life of Tusnelda Sanders.
There is a steady sales of her paintings since early 2000s, mostly in North America where her paintings were originally sold in North America starting in 1944.[35][36][37][38][39]
The art historical monograph on the ceramic art of Carol Janeway discusses Tusnelda's art career during her New York sojourn, during World War II.[40]
To date only one painting by Tusnelda is in a permanent collection:
Tusnelda Sanders. "Cueillette des oliviers," Chateau- Musee Grimaldi, Cagnes-sur-mer. donated by the artist in 1958.
In 2001, Cagnard writer Michel Gaudet described the artists’ lives in Cagnes-sur-mer in the 1930 to 1980 period in his book, full of period photographs.
In 2011, the large retrospective of Cagnard painters at the Château-Musée Grimaldi, Haut-de-Cagnes, included at least one of her paintings.[33] The detailed companion exhibition catalog of this retrospective included a one-page essay on her and reproduced the museums's one painting by her: "Cueillette des oliviers", gift of the artists, 1958. [34]
"
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
1944, 1945, 1946 - Bonestell Gallery, New York City
1957 - Galerie Laurine, Copenhagen, Denmark
1958 - Galerie Iarvov, Nice, France
1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967 - Cober Gallery, New York City
Group Shows
1951 - Galerie Muratore, Nice, France
1951 - Den Frie Udstillings Bygning, Copenhagen Denmark
1952 - Galerie Las Arts, Vence, France
1960 - Salle Jean Graille, La Ciotat, France
1960 - Musee d'Art et d'Archaeologie, Toulon, France
1965 - Annual Purchase Exhibition, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
1969 - LaTortue Galerie, Santa Monica, CA
1972 - The Art Wagon Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ
1974 - Elaine Horwitch Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Over a period of years:
La Maison Danoise, Paris, France
Maison des Artistes, Cagnes, France
REFERENCES
1. ^ "Frida Nielsen in the Denmark, Church Records, 1812-1918". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
2. ^ Gaudet, Michel (2001). La vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaestre. Nice: Demaestre.
3. ^ "Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Portræt af Tusnelda Sanders, 1928, NG.M.02240, Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design". Wikipedia Commons. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
4. ^ Lundstrøm, Vilhelm. "Portrait of Tusnelda Sanders". www.nasjonalmuseet.no. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
5. ^ Bowen, Stella (1941). Drawn from Life. Collins Publishing Ltd. pp. 236f.
6. ^ Bowen, Stella. "Tusnelda (1936)". Australian War Museum.
7. ^ Bowen, Stella. "Provencal Conversation (1936)". Australian War Museum. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
8. ^ [marriage register, Cagnes-sur-mer]. 20 March 1941.
9. ^ "Frida Sanders in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
10. ^Jenssen, Victoria (2022). "Designed Tiles: A Silkscreen Studio in New York, NY, 1939-1978," Tile Heritage: A Review of American Tile History. Vol.XI, No.2, Summer 2022, pp.21-37.
11. ^ DeVries, Howard (May 20, 1944). "Among the New Exhibitions". New York Times.
12. ^ "Tusnelda, "Primitive"". Arts Magazine. 19. 1944.
13. ^ see DeVries
14. ^ "Primitive at Bonestell Galleries". Art Digest. 19: 9. June 1945.
15. ^ "Exhibition, Bonestell's". Art News. 44: 6. June 1945.
16. ^ "Other Exhibitions in Varied Moods". The Sun. May 19, 1945.
17. ^ Tusnelda. New York: Cober Gallery. January 9, 1963.
18. ^ "Exhibition at Cober Gallery". Art News. 61: 48. February 1963.
19. ^ Raynor, V (April 1965). "Exhibition at Cober Gallery". Arts Magazine. 39: 62.
20. ^ ""Exhibition at the Cober gallery"". ARTnews. 65: 11. March 1966.
21. ^ ""Exhibition at the Cober Gallery"". Arts Magazine. 41: 60. Summer 1967.
22. ^ "La Petite Restaurant (art reproduction)". Art in America. 60: 124. March 1972.
23. ^ Moeller, Harald Foght. "Denmark, Church Records, 1812-1918 for Harald Holger Foght Møller Staden København Staden København 1914-1924". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
24. ^ "Personal Notes". Bulletin of the American Field Service Association. 14. May 1926.
25. ^ [marriage register, Cagnes-sur-mer]. 20 March 1941.
26. Vilhelm Lundstrom 100 Ar 1893-1993. Copenhagen: Udstillingsbygningen ved Charlottenborg. 1993. pp. 77–78, 253.
27. ^ Skouen, Arne (1972). Sir Williams bohémer. www,books.google.ca. Ashehaug. ISBN 9788203051852.
28. ^ Paludan, Else (1957). Gør det let som Tusnelda: en causerende kogebog om sjov mad i sjove omgivelser.
29. ^ "Chateau Le Cagnard". www.lecagnard.fr. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
30. ^ "Sigurd Foght Moeller in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
31. ^ Gaudet, Michel (2001). La vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaestre.
32. ^ "Roswell Stevens Sanders in the U.S., Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974". www.ancestry.com.
33. ^ Delmonte, Frédéric (June 26, 2011). "Des peintures à remonter le temps au musée Grimaldi". Nice-Matin. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
34. ^ Journiac, Virginie; Aral, Guillaume; Château-Musée Grimaldi (2011). C'était t'en souvien-tu, à Cagnes: Exposition Rétrospective des Peintres de Cagnes-sur-mer: 25 juin - 5 september 2011. Cagnes-sur-mer, France: Ville de Cagnes-sur-mer. pp. 76.
35. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Cagnes sur mer, 1952". www.artnet.com.
36. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "The Procession of Seven Brides". www.skinnerinc.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
37. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Three Tall Houses". www.liveauctioineers.com.
38. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Les Amoureuse". www.auctions.milleabros.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
39. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Funeral Procession". www.rubylane.com.
40. ^ Jenssen, Victoria (2022). The Art of Carol Janeway: A Tile & Ceramics Career with Georg Jensen Inc. and Ossip Zadkine in 1940s Manhattan. Altona, MB: Friesen Press.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bowen, Stella (1941). Drawn from Life. London: Collins Publishers Ltd.
DeVries, Howard, "Among the New Exhibitions," New York Times May 20, 1944.
Gaudet, Michel (2001). La Vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaistre. ISBN 978-2-84194-011-X
Jenssen, Victoria (2022). "Designed Tiles: A Silkscreen Studio in New York, NY, 1939-1978," Tile Heritage: A Review of American Tile History. Vol.XI, No.2, Summer 2022, pp.21-37.
Jenssen, Victoria (2022). The Art of Carol Janeway: A Tile & Ceramics Career with Georg Jenssen Inc. and Ossip Zadkine in 1940s Manhattan. Altona MB: Friesen Press. ISBN 978-1-03-913087-6.
Journiac, Virginie, Guillaume Aral, Château-Musée Grimaldi (2011). "Tusnelda Sanders," in C'était t'en souvenir-tu, à Cagnes: Exposition Rétrospective des Peintres de Cagnes-sur-mer. Cagnes-sur-mer, France: Ville de Cagnes-sur-mer. pp. 76. ill.
Swados, Harvey, (1963) "Tusnelda" in Tusnelda: January 9 - February 2, 1963, New York, NY: Cober Gallery. 1963.
"Tusnelda, Primitive," Arts Magazine, Vol.19, 1944.
EXHIBITIONS
Solo Exhibitions
1944, 1945, 1946 - Bonestell Gallery, New York City
1957 - Galerie Laurine, Copenhagen, Denmark
1958 - Galerie Iarvov, Nice, France
1962, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1967 - Cober Gallery, New York City
Group Shows
1951 - Galerie Muratore, Nice, France
1951 - Den Frie Udstillings Bygning, Copenhagen Denmark
1952 - Galerie Las Arts, Vence, France
1960 - Salle Jean Graille, La Ciotat, France
1960 - Musee d'Art et d'Archaeologie, Toulon, France
1965 - Annual Purchase Exhibition, Illinois Wesleyan University, Bloomington, IL
1969 - LaTortue Galerie, Santa Monica, CA
1972 - The Art Wagon Galleries, Scottsdale, AZ
1974 - Elaine Horwitch Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Over a period of years:
La Maison Danoise, Paris, France
Maison des Artistes, Cagnes, France
REFERENCES
1. ^ "Frida Nielsen in the Denmark, Church Records, 1812-1918". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
2. ^ Gaudet, Michel (2001). La vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaestre. Nice: Demaestre.
3. ^ "Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Portræt af Tusnelda Sanders, 1928, NG.M.02240, Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design". Wikipedia Commons. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
4. ^ Lundstrøm, Vilhelm. "Portrait of Tusnelda Sanders". www.nasjonalmuseet.no. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
5. ^ Bowen, Stella (1941). Drawn from Life. Collins Publishing Ltd. pp. 236f.
6. ^ Bowen, Stella. "Tusnelda (1936)". Australian War Museum.
7. ^ Bowen, Stella. "Provencal Conversation (1936)". Australian War Museum. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
8. ^ [marriage register, Cagnes-sur-mer]. 20 March 1941.
9. ^ "Frida Sanders in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
10. ^Jenssen, Victoria (2022). "Designed Tiles: A Silkscreen Studio in New York, NY, 1939-1978," Tile Heritage: A Review of American Tile History. Vol.XI, No.2, Summer 2022, pp.21-37.
11. ^ DeVries, Howard (May 20, 1944). "Among the New Exhibitions". New York Times.
12. ^ "Tusnelda, "Primitive"". Arts Magazine. 19. 1944.
13. ^ see DeVries
14. ^ "Primitive at Bonestell Galleries". Art Digest. 19: 9. June 1945.
15. ^ "Exhibition, Bonestell's". Art News. 44: 6. June 1945.
16. ^ "Other Exhibitions in Varied Moods". The Sun. May 19, 1945.
17. ^ Tusnelda. New York: Cober Gallery. January 9, 1963.
18. ^ "Exhibition at Cober Gallery". Art News. 61: 48. February 1963.
19. ^ Raynor, V (April 1965). "Exhibition at Cober Gallery". Arts Magazine. 39: 62.
20. ^ ""Exhibition at the Cober gallery"". ARTnews. 65: 11. March 1966.
21. ^ ""Exhibition at the Cober Gallery"". Arts Magazine. 41: 60. Summer 1967.
22. ^ "La Petite Restaurant (art reproduction)". Art in America. 60: 124. March 1972.
23. ^ Moeller, Harald Foght. "Denmark, Church Records, 1812-1918 for Harald Holger Foght Møller Staden København Staden København 1914-1924". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
24. ^ "Personal Notes". Bulletin of the American Field Service Association. 14. May 1926.
25. ^ [marriage register, Cagnes-sur-mer]. 20 March 1941.
26. Vilhelm Lundstrom 100 Ar 1893-1993. Copenhagen: Udstillingsbygningen ved Charlottenborg. 1993. pp. 77–78, 253.
27. ^ Skouen, Arne (1972). Sir Williams bohémer. www,books.google.ca. Ashehaug. ISBN 9788203051852.
28. ^ Paludan, Else (1957). Gør det let som Tusnelda: en causerende kogebog om sjov mad i sjove omgivelser.
29. ^ "Chateau Le Cagnard". www.lecagnard.fr. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
30. ^ "Sigurd Foght Moeller in the New York, U.S., Arriving Passenger and Crew Lists (including Castle Garden and Ellis Island), 1820-1957". www.ancestry.com. Retrieved August 30, 2022.
31. ^ Gaudet, Michel (2001). La vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaestre.
32. ^ "Roswell Stevens Sanders in the U.S., Reports of Deaths of American Citizens Abroad, 1835-1974". www.ancestry.com.
33. ^ Delmonte, Frédéric (June 26, 2011). "Des peintures à remonter le temps au musée Grimaldi". Nice-Matin. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
34. ^ Journiac, Virginie; Aral, Guillaume; Château-Musée Grimaldi (2011). C'était t'en souvien-tu, à Cagnes: Exposition Rétrospective des Peintres de Cagnes-sur-mer: 25 juin - 5 september 2011. Cagnes-sur-mer, France: Ville de Cagnes-sur-mer. pp. 76.
35. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Cagnes sur mer, 1952". www.artnet.com.
36. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "The Procession of Seven Brides". www.skinnerinc.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
37. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Three Tall Houses". www.liveauctioineers.com.
38. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Les Amoureuse". www.auctions.milleabros.com. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
39. ^ Sanders, Tusnelda. "Funeral Procession". www.rubylane.com.
40. ^ Jenssen, Victoria (2022). The Art of Carol Janeway: A Tile & Ceramics Career with Georg Jensen Inc. and Ossip Zadkine in 1940s Manhattan. Altona, MB: Friesen Press.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bowen, Stella (1941). Drawn from Life. London: Collins Publishers Ltd.
DeVries, Howard, "Among the New Exhibitions," New York Times May 20, 1944.
Gaudet, Michel (2001). La Vie du Haut de Cagnes (1930-1980) la bohème ensoleillée. Nice: Demaistre. ISBN 978-2-84194-011-X
Jenssen, Victoria (2022). "Designed Tiles: A Silkscreen Studio in New York, NY, 1939-1978," Tile Heritage: A Review of American Tile History. Vol.XI, No.2, Summer 2022, pp.21-37.
Jenssen, Victoria (2022). The Art of Carol Janeway: A Tile & Ceramics Career with Georg Jenssen Inc. and Ossip Zadkine in 1940s Manhattan. Altona MB: Friesen Press. ISBN 978-1-03-913087-6.
Journiac, Virginie, Guillaume Aral, Château-Musée Grimaldi (2011). "Tusnelda Sanders," in C'était t'en souvenir-tu, à Cagnes: Exposition Rétrospective des Peintres de Cagnes-sur-mer. Cagnes-sur-mer, France: Ville de Cagnes-sur-mer. pp. 76. ill.
Swados, Harvey, (1963) "Tusnelda" in Tusnelda: January 9 - February 2, 1963, New York, NY: Cober Gallery. 1963.
"Tusnelda, Primitive," Arts Magazine, Vol.19, 1944.