The Daily Valdemar No. 63: May 15

Valdemar Andersen, ca. 1909-11.
Drawing after the figurine Københavnerinden.
Printed by Simon Bernsteen. Private collection.
Photo: Niels C.B. Larsen.

This is the 63rd Daily Valdemar and the final one for now. For now - in that there is so much more to see of Valdemar Andersen and to shake up of tired tropes of what, where and why in Danish cartooning history.

In the autumn of 1908 the daily Politiken employed their first photographer along with almost the entire generation of young cartoonists of which Valdemar was one. 

Valdemar Andersen, portrait of Gerda Wegener.
Klods-Hans, February 21, 1909.
Photo: Niels C.B. Larsen.

Always keen to create events with which the paper could provoke the curiosity of its readers to buy more, Politiken arranged a cartooning competition a few months later of which the entries were presented at an exhibition on the theme of "Københavnerinden" (The Copenhagen Woman). The idea was of course that the readers would see themselves reflected in art; how they were at once modern and outgoing, while every bit as elegant as their ever famous Parisian counterparts. 

Many competitions have been held over the ages, but this was declared a moment in Danish cartooning history. 

The truth is that it is rather the self-promotion of the paper from back then which is still being repeated. 

The cartoonists were young, but already names in their own right. Besides, the fashionable woman of modern life had long been a subject matter in their work. The young cartoonists were defined by their artistic outlook and they were playing with the intricacies of fashion to accentuate the bad ass modern woman taking part in all areas of life in the new century.

Valdemar was employed by the porcelain manufacturer Bing & Grøndahl (now incorporated into Royal Copenhagen) in 1909 where he among other works did a figurine on a fashionable woman. This could be seen as an extension of the competition, however... At the manufacturer Valdemar was trying his hand at decorating vases, but the figurine was a subject matter he had been drawing for so long and now was the chance to give her three dimensions with a hint of a fourth: She is lifting her skirts to emphasise street life and movement. A decoration on modernity defining itself as outdoor life to be contemplated in the home. She was made in four colour versions with her dress in light green, brown, white, or blue. 

The figurine is seen at the far right among Valdemar Andersen's decorative works at his exhibition at

Den Frie 1912. Photo: Simon Bang from the original photo by Holger Damgaard, 

Gerda Wegener won the Politiken competition, but never was at home on the Danish art scene and soon found success in Paris. Valdemar drew a full-page portrait of her a year later as one colleague to another. With her body turning away from us, all emphasis is on her head. The silver grey hat of her own colouring further adds to her head's dimensions and oval features. 

She is looking away for us to acknowledge that she has it all in her. 

So... the winner left the country to seek - and find - the appreciation she deserved; still the story of the ground-breaking competition persisted. Efficient marketing from Politiken if ever there was one.