Hans Jacob Hansen (1853-1947) was a Scottish painter of Danish descent, who is famous for his depictions of Oriental landscapes and figures.
Born in Leith, Scotland, Hansen studied in Edinburgh under the tutelage of R. B. Nisbet and J. Ross.
He was in the circle of the Glasgow Boys and his artistic alignment shared some of their traits. Examples of which can be seen by the rejection of Victorian sentimentality, his wet on wet technique, and his shared group’s fascination with North Africa and the Middle East, a key theme for many Glasgow-based artists of that era :
Hansen worked extensively abroad in the Middle East, North Africa and Spain painting Eastern markets, harems and bullfighting scenes.
He developed a style very close to that of his fellow Scottish contemporary, Arthur Melville (1855-1904). Hansen developed a watercolour technique—painting onto wet paper to let colours bleed with details being added as the paper dried. Which was so similar to Melville’s famous “blottesque” style that it is often described as “superficially similar”.
He won a silver medal at Salzburg International Exhibition and exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Scottish Academy and at numerous other venues. In 1906, Hansen was elected a member of the Royal Scottish Watercolour Society.
In 1911, Hansen moved to London where he continued to paint until his move to Southend-on-Sea at the end of his life. Hansen is remembered as one of the great Scottish painters of the 20th Century, and his works are represented in the collection of the Glasgow Art Gallery.
Hansen lived a long life, passing away in 1947 at age 94. While he and Melville were contemporaries, Melville is often cited as the more innovative leader of the style, whereas Hansen is remembered as one of its most skilled practitioners who continued the tradition well into the 20th century.