Gustaf Munch-Petersen
Encyclopedia
Gustaf Munch-Petersen was a Danish writer and painter. He wrote surreal
prose-poems, considered groundbreaking in his time, which have inspired later writers.
Gustaf Munch-Petersen grew up in a rich and respectable home; he was son of Valfrid Palmgren, a Swedish born Associate Professor in Swedish at Copenhagen University and Jon Julius Munch-Petersen, Professor in Engineering Research at the Polytechnic School. He graduated from Gymnasium
in 1930 and thereafter started several academic courses, but none could capture his interest for more than a short period of time.
Instead he focused on art (supported financially by his parents). He got his debut as a writer with ”Det nøgne menneske” (The Naked Human) in 1932. He also got his pictures on show at different exhibitions in 1932. In 1935 he moved to the Danish island of Bornholm
, where he married Lise Hjort. In 1937 he joined the International Brigades
and fought in the Spanish Civil War
, where he fell the next year.
His cousin, Arne Munch-Petersen, was a known Communist and died in 1940s Moscow
during Stalin’s purges.
Surrealism
Surrealism is a cultural movement that began in the early 1920s, and is best known for the visual artworks and writings of the group members....
prose-poems, considered groundbreaking in his time, which have inspired later writers.
Gustaf Munch-Petersen grew up in a rich and respectable home; he was son of Valfrid Palmgren, a Swedish born Associate Professor in Swedish at Copenhagen University and Jon Julius Munch-Petersen, Professor in Engineering Research at the Polytechnic School. He graduated from Gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
in 1930 and thereafter started several academic courses, but none could capture his interest for more than a short period of time.
Instead he focused on art (supported financially by his parents). He got his debut as a writer with ”Det nøgne menneske” (The Naked Human) in 1932. He also got his pictures on show at different exhibitions in 1932. In 1935 he moved to the Danish island of Bornholm
Bornholm
Bornholm is a Danish island in the Baltic Sea located to the east of the rest of Denmark, the south of Sweden, and the north of Poland. The main industries on the island include fishing, arts and crafts like glass making and pottery using locally worked clay, and dairy farming. Tourism is...
, where he married Lise Hjort. In 1937 he joined the International Brigades
International Brigades
The International Brigades were military units made up of volunteers from different countries, who traveled to Spain to defend the Second Spanish Republic in the Spanish Civil War between 1936 and 1939....
and fought in the Spanish Civil War
Spanish Civil War
The Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
, where he fell the next year.
His cousin, Arne Munch-Petersen, was a known Communist and died in 1940s Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
during Stalin’s purges.