Achton Johannes Friis (1871-1939) was a well-known painter and illustrator. He was born on September 5, 1871 in Trustrup, Lyngby Sogn, Randers County, and died on December 17, 1939 in Copenhagen. His mother, Maren F. Fries, was the daughter of a farmer and married the violinist Martha Elster in Copenhagen on December 15, 1909. Martha was born in the same city on September 17, 1879 and died in Frederiksberg on February 28, 1966. She was the daughter of Captain Chr. Gregers E. and Lovise Augusta Petersen, who were wealthy.
Achton Friis was a versatile man who combined the qualities of a farmer with an aristocratic demeanor. This unique blend enabled him to lead a life that was both devoted and exceptionally meaningful, although he was not outstandingly gifted in any field. During the Danish expedition with Mylius-Erichsen, he discovered his talent as a writer and visual artist, deeply moved by the landscapes of the north-east coast of Greenland. He created a series of vivid and impressive landscape paintings as well as etched and painted portraits of, among others, his friend Jørgen Brønlund. These works were reproduced in Mylius-Erichsen’s books on Greenland.
In addition to his artistic contributions, Friis also wrote and illustrated travelogues, such as in his book “Arctic Hunter”. His true gift, however, was to capture the diverse beauty of Denmark through the eyes of an artist. His works, “The Islands of the Danes
