When I think of Scandinavian paintings, the first thing which comes to mind is landscapes. I am so enchanted by the Nordic painters' depictions of Northern light that landscapes, naturally, appear top-of-mind. Furthermore, the Nordic embrace of nature—specifically the healthful, revitalizing outdoors—made landscape painting a particularly important element of Scandinavia's painterly oeuvre. But there are wonderful Nordic portraits, too. I remember visiting the (old) Norwegian National Museum of Art in Oslo. There was a gallery devoted to the works of Edvard Munch. While the crowd jostled in front of Munch's iconic painting, The Scream, I enjoyed free, unrestricted inspection of the dozen-or-more full-length portraits which lined 95% of the room's walls. And Munch's portraits were good (a revelation to me, who was only familiar with The Scream.)
The painting above, titled Boy Playing the Violin (1884), was painted by Swedish artist, Richard Bergh (1858-1919). He painted it in Paris, where he was amongst a group of Swedish expat painters, all hoping for some success in the French art capital. Notice that Bergh—using an Impressionist style—focusses on the light streaming into the apartment, rather than the precise detail of the boy, his clothes or his surroundings. Nevertheless, Bergh captures the moment clearly—and created a wonderful picture.
Promising Scandinavian painters—indeed, artists from all over the world—spent time in Paris, honing their skills, befriending other artists, and absorbing the atmosphere. In 1881 and 1882, Norwegian painter Christian Krohg (1852-1925) resided and painted in Paris. The picture above, painted in 1882, was painted in the village of Grez-sur-Loing—a colony south of Paris which was popular with Norwegian expat artists. Here he captures fellow Norwegian painter, Karl Nordström, gazing out a window, looking-down upon the gardens below. Notice Krohg's ability to capture the light (and capture a contemplative moment of a fellow painter). Another version of this painting by Krohg was exhibited at the Chicago World's Fair in 1893 and now hangs in Oslo's National Gallery.
Maria Wiik (1853-1928) was a Finnish artist who developed an "atmospheric" approach to painting. In this self portrait, Wiik portrays herself indistinctly. We see that she's painting an easel—and that a fire seems to be burning in the background—but the picture is otherwise a study of color and mood (not unlike Whistler). Wiik traveled with a circle of female painters, friends from her days studying in Helsinki and Paris, to Brittany, France; Cornwall, England; and Italy.
Though our Greenwich Village store is now permanently closed, LEO Design is still alive and well! Please visit our on-line store where we continue to sell Handsome Gifts (www.LEOdesignNYC.com).
To arrange a visit our Pittsburgh showroom (by private appointment only), please call 917-446-4248.