Johansen, Martha

Viggo Johansen: Martha Møller (1861-1929), 1878, Skagens Museum

Martha Johansen, født Møller 1861-1929

Datter af Caroline Cathrine Holm (1819-83) og Laurits Sørensen Møller (1830-75) der var Ane Brøndums bror, og dermed kusine til Anna Ancher.

Født: 27.11.1861 i Øster Thirup ved Hjørring

Gift: 12.8.1880 i Skagen med maleren Viggo Johansen

Død: 11.10.1929 i København

Lokationer i Skagen

Relationer

Se Brøndums anetavle under Brøndum, Erik, 1820 - 1890

Biografi i relation til Skagen

I 1877-79 lærte hun og søsteren husholdning, sprog og andre skolefag hos præsten i Hornbæk ved Randers. Allerede da var Martha en glimrende brevskriver og god iagttager af kunst.

Martha blev gift med maleren Viggo Johansen i 1880. Martha var søster til Henriette Madsen, født Møller (gift med Karl Madsen, også i 1880). Brylluppet blev holdt hos hendes farbror, købmand C.S. Møller.

Familien lejede sig ind i hendes morfars (Søren Møllebygger) gamle ejendom Madam Bendsens Gaard (senere Tuxens Villa) i Vesterby og følte sig godt tilpas i fred for de mange tilrejsende omkring Brøndums i Østerby.

Martha fik på kun syv år 6 børn.

Foruden den næsten umenneskelige arbejdsbyrde og en vanskelig økonomi ramtes hun af store sorger da hun i 1881 mistede søsteren Henriette (døde i barselsseng) og i 1883 sin mor.

Det er derfor ikke forbavsende at hun var uinteresseret i kunstnerkoloniens ungkalejargon og feststemte samvær.

I "Hip, Hip, Hurra" er martha skildret fra ryggen som en tavs kontrast til det glade selskab.

I 1891 opstod et fjendskab mellem Martha og Krøyer, der udsprang af sladder om dennes unge kone Marie og om Helene Christensen. Martha afstod nu fra at rejse til Skagen og kom først igen efter Krøyers død. (Se under P.S.Krøyer og/eller læs Margrethe Loerges "Martha Johansen" p. 33ff (se nedenfor)

Viggo Johansen brugte hende ofte som sin kæreste model sammen med børnene.

I Skagen var hun meget knyttet til Anna Ancher, Ane Brøndum (enkemadam Brøndum) og C.S. Møller-familien i købmandsgården.

En oktoberdag i 1929 spadserede Martha for sidste gang i Botanisk Have i København, da hun bliver ramt af en hjerneblødning. Tililende sørger for at hun kommer på Kommunehospitalet, hvor datteren Bodil som den eneste af børnene, har mulighed for at være hos hende. Efter et par dage anser man situationen for stabil og Bodil rejser, men måtte kaldes tilbage, da Martha får et tilbagefald. Desværre nåede hun ikke frem i tide. Om eftermiddagen den 11. oktober døde Martha Johansen stille, 68 år gammel.


Biography in relation to Skagen

In 1877-79 she and her sister learned housekeeping, languages and other school subjects from the priest in Hornbæk near Randers. Even then Martha was an excellent letter writer and a good observer of art.

Martha married the painter Viggo Johansen in 1880. Martha was the sister of Henriette Madsen, née Møller (married to Karl Madsen, also in 1880). The wedding was held at the home of her uncle, merchant C.S. Møller.

The family rented the old property of her grandfather (Søren Møllebygger) Madam Bendsens Gaard (later Tuxens Villa) in Vesterby and felt comfortable in the peace of the many visitors around Brøndums in Østerby.

Martha had 6 children in only seven years.

In addition to the almost inhuman workload and a difficult economy, she suffered great sorrows when she lost her sister Henriette (died in childbirth) in 1881 and her mother in 1883.

It is not surprising, therefore, that she was uninterested in the bachelor jargon and party atmosphere of the artists' colony.

In "Hip, Hip, Hurrah," Martha is portrayed from the back as a silent contrast to the merry company.

In 1891, an enmity arose between Martha and Krøyer, stemming from gossip about his young wife Marie and about Helene Christensen. Martha now refrained from travelling to Skagen and did not return until after Krøyer's death. (See under P.S.Krøyer and/or read Margrethe Loerge's "Martha Johansen" p. 33ff (see below)

Viggo Johansen often used her as his girlfriend model with the children.

In Skagen she was very close to Anna Ancher, Ane Brøndum (widowed Adam Brøndum) and the C.S. Møller family in the merchant's house.

One October day in 1929, Martha was strolling for the last time in the Botanical Gardens in Copenhagen when she suffered a stroke. Relatives arrange for her to be admitted to the municipal hospital, where her daughter Bodil, as the only one of the children, has the opportunity to be with her. After a few days the situation is considered stable and Bodil leaves, but has to be recalled when Martha has a relapse. Unfortunately, she did not arrive in time. On the afternoon of 11 October, Martha Johansen died quietly at the age of 68.

Links og litteratur

Lise Svanholm: Damerne på Skagen

Margrethe Loerges: Martha Johansen, portræt af skagenmaleren Viggo Johansens hustru , Lamberth