Osvald Rasmussen

Osvald Rasmussen, born Osvald Laurits Karms, was a Danish painter, set designer, and theater painter, born in 1885 in Ringsed on Zealand and passing away in 1972 in Copenhagen. He was the father of the painter Allan Karms, known by his artistic name “Rasmussen.” Osvald participated in his first exhibition in 1895 in Sundby. He studied under Hans Andreasen Hessellund and Sigurd Wandel at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts at Charlottenborg Palace.

He undertook study trips to Germany, Norway, and Sweden and worked temporarily for the Danish Saga Film Studios. From 1922 to 1950, he served as a set designer and theater painter for Nordisk Film Company in Copenhagen, eventually becoming the head of the decoration department and contributing to over 70 film productions. He used the artistic name “L. Mathiesen” as a set designer and exhibited his works with the Danish Artists’ Association in Copenhagen from 1927 onwards.