Paul Gustave Fischer (July 22, 1860, Copenhagen – May 1, 1934 Gentofte) was a Danish painter. Paul Fischer belongs to the fourth generation of Fischers to live in Denmark. This Jewish family originally came from Poland. The family was upper middle class; Paul's father had started as a painter, but later succeeded in the business of manufacturing paints and lacquers. His formal art education lasted only a short time in his middle teens. For two years he attended The Royal Academy of Art in Copenhagen. During the period when he actively painted, Danish art was dominated by Laurits Tuxen. Fischer breakthrough came in 1882 when he worked with illustrations for the magazine “ Ude og hjemme” Fischer skillfully captured the atmosphere of Copenhagen with its people. And became known for his series of City scenes from Scandinavia, Paris, Italy and Germany. In the beginning of Fishers carrier he primarily worked on evening scenes, gray afternoons or scenes with people hurrying through the rain or snow. Later during his travels to Paris from 1891-1895, Fischer’s works became more bright and he also begun painting sunlit beach scenes with people bathing. Fischer also worked with illustrations for children’s books and did many famous Poster Designs where he was highly influenced by the masters: Steinlein and Toulouse-Lautrec. Besides Paris, Fischer traveled and worked in Germany from 1883-1909 and Italy from 1894-1922. Despite Fischer's lack of critical recognition during his lifetime, his art sold well. One major event in which he succeeded over Tuxen was when Denmark transferred the sovereignty of Norway back to the Norwegians - Fischer rather than Tuxen got the commission from the King of Norway to paint the event.
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