Steffen Jørgensen oil painting

This large oil painting titled Tre trekanter i konfiguration was created in 1986 by Steffen Jørgensen. The work is a significant example of Scandinavian concretism, a movement rooted in geometric abstraction and mathematical structure, often aligned with the broader international tendencies of concrete art.

The composition is defined by a structured arrangement of intersecting triangular planes and sharply demarcated color fields. Jørgensen employs a restrained, earthy palette consisting of olive green, deep black, cream, muted ochre, and rich brown tones. The geometries overlap in both flat and subtly shaded forms, producing a three-dimensional illusion within a strictly two-dimensional space. The use of hard edges and gradients introduces a sense of spatial tension and dynamism, suggesting folded surfaces or facets of an abstracted architectural structure.

The title, handwritten on the reverse of the canvas, directly references a geometric configuration, g(9,3), which in mathematical terms could relate to combinatorial geometry or graph theory, and includes a mention of Pappos, likely referring to the ancient Greek mathematician Pappus of Alexandria, whose work on configurations of points and lines influenced modern geometric theory. This conceptual basis reinforces the painting’s intellectual and systematic underpinnings, placing it firmly within the tradition of concretist art where content is derived from internal formal relationships rather than external reference.

The canvas measures 132.5 cm in width and 93 cm in height, or approximately 52.2 inches by 36.6 inches. The surface is oil on canvas, framed within a minimalist black-edged border that supports the object’s visual containment and clean presentation. The work is signed and dated on the reverse in black crayon.

Condition is good vintage with minor signs of wear, primarily along the surface and edges consistent with age. There is no visible structural damage, and the painted surfaces retain their vibrancy and clarity.