Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen facts for kids
Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen (born September 16, 1848, died July 13, 1925) was a talented Danish artist. She was a weaver and textile artist who was especially good at embroidery. Kristiane was the daughter of a famous painter named Constantin Hansen.
In 1873, she opened an embroidery shop in Copenhagen with her friend Johanne Bindesbøll. Their business was very successful for 30 years! People, churches, and schools bought their beautiful work. They even won several international awards. In 1903, they closed the shop to focus on making large tapestries for Frederiksborg Castle. Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen was also an important early supporter of women's rights.
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Kristiane's Life Story
Kristiane Constantin Hansen was born in Copenhagen on September 16, 1848. She was the oldest of nine children. Her father, Carl Christian Constantin Hansen, was a well-known Danish painter. Their home was full of beautiful furniture and art.
Kristiane learned embroidery from Georgia Skovgaard, who was married to another painter. In 1873, Kristiane traveled with her father to places like Rome and Pompei. There, she practiced her drawing skills by sketching old buildings.
Her Successful Embroidery Business
Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen first practiced embroidery at home. But in 1873, she and Johanne Bindesbøll opened their own shop. It was located on Købmagergade in central Copenhagen. Another embroiderer, Anna Sarauw, also worked with them for some years.
Thanks to Kristiane's good organization and the artists' skills, their business did very well for 30 years. Georgia Skovgaard had taught them how to embroider wild flowers. Johanne Bindesbøll was skilled at drawing plants and animals in old Greek and Roman styles. Many of their designs were based on artwork by famous painters like P.C. Skovgaard and Kristiane's father, Constantin Hansen.
They made patterns for cross-stitching on canvas, which customers could easily follow. But the artists themselves created many different textiles using even the most difficult embroidery methods.
Their business showed its work at several international art shows. They won awards at exhibitions in Amsterdam (1877), Paris (1878), and Copenhagen (1888).
When the shop closed in 1903, another embroiderer named Clara Wæver bought most of their designs. She used them to improve her own work and her embroidery business.
Fighting for Women's Rights
From 1889, Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen was also an early member of the women's rights movement in Denmark. She was on the board of the Danish Women's Society until 1892. She also served on the Copenhagen branch board until 1897.
In 1889, she was one of the first three board members of a women's organization called Fru Rovsings Mindelegat. She worked on a committee that focused on job training for women. Kristiane really wanted women to be able to support themselves. She also fought for women to have the right to vote.
In 1890, she suggested creating places where women could sew "reform clothes." These were practical clothes suitable for work, which had mostly been imported from Germany. She helped choose Danish artists for the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. She also served on the committee for the 1895 Copenhagen Women's Exhibition.
Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen passed away in Copenhagen on July 13, 1925.
See also
In Spanish: Kristiane Konstantin-Hansen para niños
