Exhibited: “Harald Giersing Mindeudstilling”, Charlottenborg, Copenhagen, 2.-16. October 1927, cat. no. 237. Provenance: Merchant Niels Sjørup Jørgensen's collection, Århus. Literature: Ny Dansk Kunsthistorie, no. 6., Palle Fogtdal, 1994. Literature: Lennart Gottlieb: “Giersing: maler, kritiker, menneske”, Gyldendal, 1995 (reproduced p. 225). Literature: “Kunst i privat eje”, no. III, Aage Prioras Forlag, 1944–45, p. 308.

In this painting Giersing seeks a discreet monumentality which find expression in the tranquil plasticity of the picture surface. At the same time a bright and carefree atmosphere invites the spectator to follow the young lady into the picture.

The period from 1905 to the beginning of World War I in 1914 is extremely hectic and rich on new revolutionary movements in the art world: fauvism, cubism, futurism and expressionism among others. The artists reject naturalism in favour of free experiments.

In 1907 Giersing returns from a stay in Paris, very inspired by the new impulses, and along with his contemporaries he approaches a new form of expression. The period 1907–1919 is a watershed in Danish art and “Ung Dame med Cykle” is no exception. Here Giersing unfolds a strong colouristic position and cubistic sovereignty.

Ih his own words his ambition was “to make the picture bang, make the lines explode against each other, the colours rattle from steep strength and splendour, depict reality as it is when experienced in the most intense way, a dream of summer, about muscles, about the eternal articulation of the bodies”.