SMK - Statens Museum for Kunst

This year, we welcome the turn of the year with excitement for several reasons — the obvious one being that we left 2020 behind — but also because a host of new, outstanding artists are now part of the Public Domain.

Vilhelm Lundstrøm, Still Life with White Jar, Orange and Book, 1932–1933, KMS7070. SMK, public domain

What works and what doesn’t? Some photos seem born for social media while others fall flat, failing to engage, impress or inspire. But what is the difference? This article is my best attempt at an answer.

We have invited artist and creative coder Andreas Refsgaard to develop a tool to make it fun and personal to explore the SMK collection. Here, Andreas tells the story of how he’s making it possible for you to jump into your favourite artwork.

Vilhelm Hammershøi’s painting Interior in Strandgade. Sunlight on the Floor, 1901 https://open.smk.dk/artwork/image/KMS3696 and SMK’s director Mikkel Bogh exposed to Deep Painterly Harmonization.

The SMK Online collection, codename (and real name) SMK OPEN, has been live for the entirety of this bizarre year. And because nothing calms the soul like a simplistic list here’s… the most viewed artworks of 2020!

More artworks to enjoy from home

Nina Beier, Female Nude, 2015, KMS9102, SMK — Statens Museum for Kunst © Nina Beier/VISDA

We just launched an Instagram filter bringing one of our highlights to digital life. Here’s why…

Check out an innovative AR filter #ZEROWASTECULTURE based on art from public domain now available on Instagram

#ZEROWASTECULTURE — an AR filter based on Ottmar Elliger’s “Still Life”, Statens Museum for Kunst [link no longer active]

Open Culture to the Rescue!

The Artist’s Wife (Périe) Reading, Albert Bartholomé, 1883, Metropolitan Museum of Art (the US)

Five artists represented in the collection of SMK — Statens Museum for Kunst have entered the Public Domain as of 1 January 2020. That calls for a celebration — but it also opens our eyes to some noticeable gaps in our digitised collection.

Intérieur by Emile Othon Friesz, 1914, now available for free download in the SMK collection open.smk.dk/artwork/image/KMSr49

On 29 November 2019 we’re finally, proudly, and with some trepidation launching SMK’s brand new online collection. Call it SMK Open.