Ilsted, Peter Vilhelm

1861 – 1933
Danish

The Danish artist Peter Ilsted is best known for his tranquil depictions of domestic interior scenes. Loosely likened to Vermeer, his imagery is calm and quiet with subtle colors and subdued light. Often the subjects are viewed from behind, adding to the sense of mystery.

Ilsted was a very successful artist during his lifetime and his mezzotints are highly collectible. He often employed the technique of inking the plate “à la poupée”, a method in which pigment is applied using a ball of cloth dabbed onto the already printed sheet, in effect hand-coloring the print.