List of Paintings & Contact
Your help is needed to make the first exhibition showing the Faroes visible again.
Invitation to Collaborate
During his stay on the Faroe Islands, the Swedish painter William Gislander produced approximately 100 works (read more in the introductory article).
The list below gathers 60 paintings of which traces exist (photographs, descriptions, titles), yet which still remain to be located
So far, 7 of Gislander’s Faroese paintings could be located in private collections. 6 could be traced in public ownership (you can read about some encounters with these paintings here)
This leaves approximately 30 works of which no trace has been identified so far
To continue this research, we depend on the support of private collectors and citizens. Please be in touch at contact@gislander1924.eu:
if you own one of the paintings listed below and would like to support our research (for example, with reproductions, physical details, histories)
if you can share further information about one of these works,
if you know of any further works from Gislander’s stay on the Faroes
if you spot any mistakes in the current attributions of landscapes or birds,
or if you would like to draw attention to anything else in the wider context.
All information you share will be treated confidentially. It will be published only with your consent and according to your wishes for privacy.
Browse the Search List
Please note that the list below is work-in-progress and that titles and attributions may change.
I owe my gratitude to a large number of institutions and individuals who supported this work (see Acknowledgments). The modern reproductions below are included courtesy of the auction houses named in the individual entries.
In a few cases, the relevant rights holders or responsible parties could no longer be identified, or contact could not be established; further information or corrections are welcome.
Last updated: 23 June 2026.
0. Printed Material
0. Catalogue of the exhibition William Gislander, Den Frie Udstilling, September-October 1924, Copenhagen.
The accounting books at the archive at Den Frie mentioned the sales of several hundred printed copies of an exhibition catalogue.
No copy is known to be extant in the collections of KB Copenhagen, UB Lund, KB Stockholm, Konstbibliotek Stockholm.
I. Paintings Known from Modern Reproductions
1. “Guillemots in Flight”
Oil on canvas, 100 x 125cm.
Sold on 13 Jun 2023 by Bruun Rasmussen as “Skræmde Lomvier”.
Title here given after Tingakrossur, 31 July 1924 (“‘Strækkende lomvier’ við hinum skúmandi brimi í neðra”).
2. “Eider Ducks near the Cave”
Oil on canvas, 65 x 81 cm.
Sold on 10 June 2020 by Bukowskis as “Fåglar till havs”.
Title taken from a painting described as “… ‘Ederfugle ved Grotten’, where the gaze rests upon the blue depths” in Tingakrossur, 31 July 1924.
3. “View over Ostnæs” (Udsigt over Ostnæs)
Oil on panel, 30 x 48 cm.
Sold on 6 March 2023 by Bruun Rasmussen as “Rocky coastal view at twilight, the Faroe Islands”.
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books. Acquired by the Danish King in 1924.
4. “View from the Mykines Cliffs towards Vestmanna” [my title]
Oil on panel, 100 x 130 cm.
Offered for sale on 25 June 1997 by Nellemann-Thomsen, Viby, Århus, Kunstauktion 718 (lot 1035), as “Klippekyst, Færøerne”.
5. “View from the Mykines Cliffs towards Vestmanna, with Gannets” [my title]
Oil on panel, 78 x 64 cm.
Offered on 13 March 1996 by Sagførernes Auktioner, nr. 4741 (C2796), nr. 106 / p. 12 as “Klippekyst med måger” (depicted on p. 9). Described and printed with the caption “Färöer” in Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924.
6. “Gannet Chick” (Havssuleunge)
Oil on canvas, 66 x 60 cm.
Sold on 7 December 2012 by Helsingborgs Auktionsverk.
7. “Puffin Cliffs”
Oil on panel, 127 x 127 cm.
Sold on 18 May 1994 by Bruun Rasmussen, Jubilee Auction 600 (C2695I), lot 00433, as “Klippelandskab med søpapegøjer”.
8. “The Silent Evening” (Stille Aften)
Oil on panel, 49 x 42 cm.
Sold on 02 February 2016 by Skånes Auktionsverk (lot 135) as “Stilla afton”.
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
9. “Portrait of the Old Teacher Abrahamsen from Mykines”
(Portræt av den gamle Lærer Abrahamsen fra Myggnæs).
Oil on canvas, 63 x 60 cm.
Sold on 30 October 2021 by Auktionshuset Kolonn as “Mansporträtt”. Identification and title after Nationaltidende, 12.10.1924 (Sunday supplement).
10. “Agitated Sea with Gannets (?) near Nolsoy, Faroe Islands”
Oil on canvas, 80 x 100 cm.
Sold on 2 December 1997 by Bruun Rasmussen (lot 206) as “Oprort hav med måger ved Store Dimon, Fæoerne”.
11. “View towards Nólsoy, Faroe Islands”
Oil on canvas, 30.5 x 46 cm.
Sold on 19 March 2019 by Bruun Rasmussen as “Udsigt mod Nolsø, Færøerne”.
12. “Coastal View”
Oil on unknown material, 86 x 91 cm.
Sold on 8 December 2014 by Metropol Auktioner, untitled.
13. “Hare in Winter Coat in Late Winter Mountains” [my title]
Oil on canvas, 85 x 115 cm.
Sold on 18 August 2024 by Skånes Auktionsverk.
14. “Coastal View” (Bøsdalafossur?)
Oil on panel, 52.5 x 62 cm.
Sold on 7 March 2016 by Bruun Rasmussen (lot 689) as “Coastal Scenery”.
15. “Agitated Sea at Kirkebønes” [my title]
Oil on unknown material, 47 x 61cm.
Sold on 9 February 2013 by Crafoord, Lund (lot 484) as “marint motiv”.
16. “Fishing Gannets at Sea”
Oil on panel, 80 x 104 cm.
Sold on 30 March 2015 by Bruun Rasmussen (lot 148).
17. “Gannet [?] over Agitated Sea”
Oil on panel, 47 x 61 cm.
Sold on 17 April 1993 by Falkkloo’s (spring auction, lot 00091) as “Upprort hav med sjöfågel”.
18. “Seal Family on Skerry”
Oil on panel, 86 x 126 cm.
Sold on 5 January 2015 by Bruun Rasmussen as “Sälfamilj på skäret”.
19. “Seal with Catch”
Oil on panel, 93 x 117 cm.
Sold on 6 November 2015 by Sikö Auktioner.
20. “Cormorants on a Skerry”
Oil on panel, 63 x 128 cm.
Sold on 24 November 2001 by Falkkloo’s, Höstauktionen 2001 (lot 00362).
21. “Great Cormorants in the Surf”
Oil on canvas, 165 x 116 cm (incl. frame).
Sold on 25 September 2024 through Laholms Auktionskammare as “Storskarv i strömmande fors”.
II. Paintings Known from Newspaper Reproductions
22. “Great Cormorants at Hestur” / “Morning Mist near Hestur”
(“Storskarver paa Hestø” / “Morgentaage ved Hestø”).
23. “Floating Gannets” (Svømmende Havsuler)
24. “Swans in Flight” (Trækkende Svaner)
This is a version of a painting already located in private posession. The winter motif shows Nólsoy in the background, snow fall, and the flight of swans coming in from the left.
25. “Vampires of the Air” (Luftens Vampyrer).
Bought by “Arkitekt Berg” in 1924 according to the accounting books at Den Frie.
26. “Seaside View from Sandoy” (Kustparti fra Sandø)
27. “The Troll Woman’s Finger”
“… [when we visited Gislander in his atelier], he was putting the finishing touches on a canvas from Vágar, on which one can see, among other things, the finger of the Troll Woman pointing mysteriously toward the heavens, as if in warning” (translated from an interview in Dimmalætting, 26.07.1924)
“‘The Troll Woman’s Finger’, a crooked obelisk-like cliff …” (translated from a list of paintings seen at Den Frie as provided in Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924).
With reservations, this may be the painting reproduced in Nationaltidende, 09.01.1927, p. 11 (see below). This article reproduces two other paintings by Gislander. The caption does not mention an artist’s name, stating only “Parti fran Norderoerne”.
With som license, the motif may be identified as Trøllkonufingur on the island of Vágar. The quality of the reproduction allows limited conclusions. In any case, the painting appears somewhat different in mood and style of waves from others by Gislander.
III. Paintings Known from Descriptions
28. “Evening Glow over the Atlantic” (Aftonglöd över Atlanten)
“In ‘Aftonglöd över Atlanten’, Gislander has managed to capture a sense of infinity and peace spreading across the sea on a calm evening, just as the sun’s disk descends to the horizon.” (translated from Arbetet, 09.10.1924). See also Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924.
29. “Sun Haze over the Surf” (Soldis over Brænding)
“…. the foam-spray shines white in a way that is at the same time fantastical and realistic against the deep-blue sea behind, against the red and yellow-green sky” (translated from Dagens Nyheder, 28.09.1924). Also in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924.
The description matches that for a painting entitled “Sunset from Mykines” (Solnedgång från Myggenäs) as described in Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924.
30. “Evening Mood from the Mykenesfjäll”
“In ‘Aftonstämning från Myggenäsfjället’, two shaggy island horses graze on the headland as it glows red in the evening light” (translated from Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924).
31. “Herring Gull Chick” (Havsmåsunge)
“… his ‘Havsmåsunge’, among stones below a mountain stream on a green slope, which naturally calls Liljefors to mind” (translated from Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924, p. 10).
32. “Brooding Eider Duck on Mountain Slope with Buttercups”
“Gislander also depicts … the mountain slope with quite familiar yellow flowers, where the eider duck broods among large boulders” (translated from Nationaltidende, 28.09.1924, p. 2).
The buttercup (sólja) is the national flower of the Faroes.
33. “Brown Wild Bird on Ground of Similar Colour”
“Gislander also depicts … a small patch of grey-brown ground, where a wild bird of the same colour has come to rest” (translated from Nationaltidende, 28.09.1924, p. 2).
Potentially the painting of a whimbrel mentioned as no. 53.
34. “Loons in Flight”
“… the fine mist-softened ‘Strækkende lommer’” (translated from Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924).
35. “Expedition ship Grønland (16 July 1924)”
Gislander sketched this ship bound for the Scoresby Sound during its stopover in Tórshavn, see Nationaltidende, 03.08.1924, p. 4.
IV. Paintings Known from Their Title
36. “View over Koltur” (Udsigt over Koltur).
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
37. “Northern Tip of Kalsoy” (Nordspedsen af Kalsö).
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
38. “Afternoon Sun” (Eftermiddagssol).
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
39. “View from Mykenesholmur” (Udsigt fra Myggenæs Holm)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
In 1924, the painting was acquired by the Swedish ambassador in Copenhagen Joachim Beck-Friis. In 1930, he donated a painting to the art collection of Lund University. During an inventory taken at Lund in 1986, this painting registered as “Motiv från Färöerna” was missing. The current restructuring of the collections does not allow further investigations before the end of 2027.
40. “Early Morning” (Tidlig Morgen)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
Possibly the same painting whose title is given as “Morgenstemning” in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924.
41. “Mallard with Ducklings” (Graaand med Ællinger)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
Motif mentioned as villonti with young in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924.
42. “The Northern Islands” (Norderoerne)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
43. “Bad Humour[?]” (Daarligt H[umør?])
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
44. “Specks of Sunlight” (Solstænk)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
45. “Moonshine over Nólsoy” (Maanesken over Nolsö)
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books.
46. “Storm Gathering over Nólsoy” (Optrækkende uvejr over Nolsø)
Title as mentioned in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924.
47. “Landscape with Sheep”
Oil on panel, 36 x 44 cm.
Sold on 29 November 2011 by Lauritz, Roskilde as “Landskab med får”, no illustration. Relation to the Faroes dubious, inferred by the given year (1924) and title.
48. “Coastal Motif with Sunset and Horse”
Unknown material, 61 x 60 cm.
Offered at Konst- och antikvitetesauktion med modern design in spring 1992 by Göteborgs Auktionsverk (lot 00045) as “Kustmotiv med häst i solnedgang”, no illustration.
49. “Guillemots Taking Flight” (Lettende lomvier)
Title as mentioned in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924.
50. “Eider Ducks Taking Flight at Kirkjubøur Ness”
(Lettende Edefugle ved Kirkebø Næs)
Title as mentioned in Nationaltidende, 28.09.1924, p. 1.
51. “Gannets”
Oil on canvas, 66 x 60 cm.
Sold on 12 July 2012 by Helsingborgs Auktionsverk as “Havssulor”, no reproduction.
52. “Morning Mist with S[…] in Flight”
(Morgentaage med strækkende S[…])”
Title as mentioned in Den Frie accounting books. Candidates for the illegible species could be gannets (suler), cormorants (skarver), swans (svaner).
53. “Eurasian Whimbrel”
Motif (spógvi) as mentioned in Tingakrossur, 31.07.1924. Probably the same motif mentioned as regnspurv in Nationaltidende, 04.12.1924 and regnsporv in Sydsvenska Dagbladet, 04.10.1924, p. 10.
Potentially the painting mentioned above under no. 33.
54. “Birds over the Sea”
Oil on canvas, 100 x 120 cm.
Sold on 22 June 2016 by Auktionshuset Hørsholm as “Fugle over havet”, no reproduction.
55. “Birds over the Sea”
Oil on panel, 39 x 43 cm.
Sold on 26 September 2014 by Lauritz, Herlev as “Fugle på hav”, no reproduction.
56. “Birds over the Sea”
Oil on panel, 48 x 63 cm.
Sold on 15 December 2014 by Lauritz, Herlev as “Fugle på hav”, no reproduction.
57. “Sea View from the Faroes”
Oil on panel, 58.5 x 73 cm.
Sold on 14 July 2016 by Lauritz, Herlev as “Havparti fra Færøerne”, no reproduction.
V. Attribution Unclear
58. “Travelling Birds”
Oil on canvas, 69 x 90cm.
Sold on 17 July 2023 by Bukowskis. The given year matches Gislander’s stay. However, it is unclear if the seascape and/or birds relate to the Faroes.
59. “Floating Loons”
Unknown material, 69 x 118cm.
Sold on 24 February 1999 at Bruun Rasmussen (International Auktion 658, Part 1: Danish Golden Age Paintings, lot 350) as “Svømmende sortstrubet lom”, no date given.
60. “Floating Black Ducks Off the Faroes”
Unknown material, 83 x 100 cm.
Offered on 13–15 March 1933 for sale from two private collections by Kunsthallens Auktioner as “Svømmende Sortænder under Færøerne, 1931”, advertised in Berlingske Tidende, 09.03.1933.
The date given for the painting does not match Gislander’s stay on the islands.