Hans Scherfig (April 8, 1905 – January 28, 1979) was a renowned Danish writer and artist.

Hans Scherfig
BornHans Christian Scherfig
(1905-04-08)8 April 1905
Copenhagen, Denmark
Died(1979-01-28)28 January 1979
Hillerød, Denmark
Resting placeAssistens Cemetery, Copenhagen, Denmark
Occupation
  • Author
  • Painter
Education
Spouse
Elisabeth Karlinsky
(m. 1931)

Life and career edit

His most famous works of literature include Stolen Spring, Frydenholm, Idealists, and The Scorpion, the last of which was published in over 20 countries. He is also well known for his distinctive Naivist lithographs which depict jungle and savanna scenes that owe something to Henri Rousseau, and various drawings and paintings with satirical, political, and biblical subject matter.

Central to Scherfig's work was his lifelong political engagement. Already in his early years he became a dedicated communist and remained so until his death in 1979. He was also a long-standing member of the Communist Party of Denmark. Because of this Scherfig was imprisoned by the Nazi German military occupation forces in Denmark during WWII. During the Cold War, Scherfig intensified his critical attitude against the United States.

Scherfig lies in an unmarked grave in Assistens Cemetery (Copenhagen). His grave can be identified by the stone sculpture of a turtle which lies beside it [1]

Work edit

 
Scherfig's 'Savanne' in building 21 on South Campus (University of Copenhagen)

Novels edit

Prizes edit

Scherfig won a number of prizes within the field of Danish literature, including the following:

References edit

  1. ^ "Hans Scherfig".