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August Valdemar Tørsleff was a Danish painter best known for his portraits, distinguished by their strong sense of character and historical presence. Born in Flensburg, he received his early artistic training in Copenhagen, studying under H. Grønvold at the Technical School before enrolling at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts. He later continued his studies at the Artists' Study School under Laurits Tuxen and worked as a private pupil of P.S. Krøyer in Skagen in 1905, gaining insight into the leading artistic movements of the time.
His education was further enriched through study abroad, particularly in Paris between 1908 and 1909, where he studied under Édouard Vuillard and Paul Sérusier. Exposure to French modernism broadened his artistic outlook and refined his understanding of colour, composition and psychological expression.
Although Tørsleff also painted landscapes, portraiture became the defining focus of his career. He created memorable portraits of many of the leading cultural and public figures of his day, including Georg Brandes, Joakim Skovgaard, Poul Reumert, and King Frederik IX. His portraits combine naturalistic precision with a remarkable ability to capture both the subjects social standing and individual character. His approach was inspired by the European portrait tradition of the eighteenth century, in which dignity, psychological depth and compositional balance are central qualities.
Oil on Canvas
1948
109 × 80 cm
About the Portrait
Manufacturer Julius Hansen played a decisive role in the rebuilding of Nyborg Strand after the Second World War. When the hotel was returned after the war, the buildings were in poor condition, its finances were under severe pressure, and its future was uncertain. In 1946, Julius Hansen became Chairman of the Board of Nyborg Strand and took on the immense task of restoring the hotel.
With his extensive network, business acumen, and extraordinary personal commitment, he became the driving force behind the reconstruction. At a time when almost everything was in short supply, he secured construction materials, furnishings, and financing, while personally overseeing the project through weekly visits to the construction site. Many of the solutions and qualities established during the rebuilding continue to define Nyborg Strand today.
For Julius Hansen, the project was about more than restoring a building. He believed in Nyborg Strand's importance as a place where people could meet, and he invested not only his skills and professional network but also his own financial resources in the project. By the time the hotel reopened in May 1948, his company had advanced millions of Danish kroner towards the reconstruction without any formal agreement for repayment.
One evening, shortly before the reopening, the conversation turned to the substantial debt Nyborg Strand owed Julius Hansen's company. When the hotel's director asked how they would resolve the situation, Julius Hansen calmly replied, "I'm sure we'll find a way." The director then asked a more serious question: "But what if you were to die?"
Julius Hansen answered:
"Don't you believe in God anymore?"
Only a few weeks later, those words proved almost prophetic. Just one month after the hotel reopened, Julius Hansen died, and many believed that he had worked himself to exhaustion in his efforts to bring Nyborg Strand back to life.
Today, the portrait serves as a lasting tribute to a man whose vision, determination, and generosity played a defining role in the history of Nyborg Strand.
The artwork can be found in Salon 9.
Oil on Canvas
1953
109 × 80 cm
About the Portrait
Johanne Hansen was the widow of Manufacturer Julius Hansen, who played a pivotal role in the history of Nyborg Strand. After Julius Hansen's death in 1948, the hotel began repaying its debt to his estate. Shortly afterwards, Johanne Hansen - in agreement with her children - chose to write off the remaining debt. In doing so, she effectively donated half a million Danish kroner to the hotel.
This generous act proved crucial to Nyborg Strand in the difficult years following the Second World War and helped secure the hotel's continued development.
Today, Johanne Hansen's portrait hangs alongside the portrait of her husband as a lasting tribute to their vision, commitment, and enduring contribution to Nyborg Strand.
The artwork can be found in Salon 9.
