uncovering scandinavian romanticism

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    Uncovering Scandinavian Romanticism

    Maddie Crawford

    In any given art history book the section on Scandinavian art will be quite brief, if

    included at all. However, Scandinavia is a place ripe with artists. Art was created during all

    of the major time periods in Scandinavia. One such movement, known as the Romantic

    period launched landscape artists such as Hans Gude, Lars Hetervig, Johan Thomas

    Lundbye, Peter Skovgaard, Vilhelm Kyhn, and Johan Christan Dahl. Scandinavian

    Landscape painters of the1800s represented the typical Romantic characteristics common

    of the era in Europe.

    At the end of the eighteenth century, a new movement called Romanticism was

    sweeping across Europe. Romanticism was not only an artistic movement but also an

    intellectual movement. The Romantic era was a revolt against the orderly and simplistic

    style of previous Neo-Classicism. All Romanticts were huge lovers of nature. Supporters of

    the Romantic movement were strongly against the Neo-Classicism belief of rationalizing

    nature through science. The value of untamed nature was highly appreciated by the artists

    of the Romantic era. Romantic art placed a new importance on emotions such as horror and

    amazement. Spontaneity and the supernatural were also aroused during the era.

    Hans Frederick Gude is considered one of Norways foremost landscape painters.

    Gude was born in Christiania in 1825 and at only eight years old began attending evening

    art classes at the Royal School of Drawing. Gude entered the art scene at only nineteen

    years old with his first painting titled Mountain Heights1. The painting is styled in a mono-

    1See appendix A

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    chromatic grey, yet appears upbeat. Mountain Heights portrays a cold evening in autumn

    with a low valley with a large lake as the focal point of the piece. The minimalistic styling

    of the cabins in the lower corner portray the vastness of nature. The painting created great

    positive response for Gude and was later purchased by Kunstforeningen in Christiania. The

    painting however now resides in the National Gallery of Norway and is considered to be

    Gudes best work. In his later years, Gude became obsessed with the ocean. He was

    fascinated by the emotions of the tides, how the light reflected on the water, and how

    quickly the mood of the sea could change. His painting, The Bridal procession in

    Hardanger

    2

    , painted in 1848, is considered to be the seminal of Norwegian Romanticism.

    Gude created the piece after an emotional evening at the theatre. Gude paid close attention

    to detail in the waves of the sea and created a beautiful representation of the water.

    Everything from the waves to the water dripping off of the paddle of the boat reveals a

    strong love for the ocean. The Bridal Procession is now privately owned in Oslo.

    Lars Hetervig, another notable Norwegian landscape painter was born in 1820, into

    a poor Quaker family in Tysvaer. Despite his humble beginnings, at age twenty-two

    Hetervig went on to study art privately under Gude at the Arts Academy of Dusseldorf.

    However, Hetervig was forced to leave the academy after completing only two years of

    education due to a mental breakdown. When Hetervig returned home he was diagnosed

    with melancholia3. The dark life Hetervig faced is reflected in his artwork and distinguishes

    him from other artists. Although Hetervigs works contain depressing tones and darkness, a

    strong love of nature is also present. The painting Ancient Pine Forest4 is one of

    Hetervigs best pieces. Hetervig portrayed a somber, broken down forest under an immense

    2 See appendix B3 A mental condition marked by persistent depression and ill-founded fears.4 See appendix C

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    blue sky. Hetervig successfully expressed the sadness he was experiencing due to his

    illness while paying tribute to nature. Hetervig struggled financially during his lifetime and

    often painted on paper that was not sufficient. Hetervig was known to patch pieces of paper

    together with homemade glue. Lars Hetervig was largely unknown during his lifetime and

    died in the poorhouse in 1902. It wasnt until 1914, when his work was shown at the

    Jubilee exposition in Christiania that Hetervig was truly recognized.

    Johan Christian Clausson Dahl was born February 24, 1788 in Norway. Like

    Skovgaard, Lundbye, and Kyhn, Dahl also studied at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine

    Arts. Dahl loved the beautiful nature of Norway. As a child he wrote in depth of his love of

    Danish landscape. Dahl portrayed his love of nature in his painting Stalheim5Dahls

    painting consists of dramatically composed mountains under a rainbow. Herds of animals

    graze in the foreground along with a collection of cabins. Dahls love of nature is evident

    throughout his works. Although Dahl was Norwegian he spent his time equally between

    Denmark and Norway. Dahls talent earned him the title of father of Norwegian landscape

    painting.

    Johan Thomas Lundbye was born in September 1818 in Denmark. Lundbye began

    studying at the Royal Danish Academy of Art at the young age of fourteen. Lundbye was

    extremely kind-hearted and was known not only for his landscape paintings, but also for

    his strong patriotism and love of children and animals. Lundbyes technique of painting is

    rhythmical and poetic. Lundbye painted one of his best known works Two Cows in an

    Open Field6 in 1845. The painting displays two cows prominent in the foreground,

    emphasizing Lundbyes characteristic love of animals. The landscape in the background

    5 See appendix D6 See appendix E

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    shows an immense field and high mountains. Lundbyes appreciation of the untamed is

    shown in the fact that the two cows relax freely outside of barriers. Lundbyes artistic

    career ended when the First War of Schleswig broke out. In the spring of 1848 at thirty

    years old, Lundbye enlisted in the army but died only eight days into his term of service.

    Peter Christian Thamsen Skovgaard born April 4, 1817 is considered the most

    influential Danish Romantic-era landscape painter. Skovgaard showed early promise

    artistically and like Lundbye, was sent to study at the Royal Danish Academy of Art at the

    age of fourteen7. Early on Skovgaard painted portraits and interiors but soon allowed his

    strong love of nature to become the central focus of his career. Skovgaard was also more

    educated in botany than any other Scandinavian artist of the time. Skovgaard searched

    deep into nature in order to give a unique perspective of Danish landscapes. Skovgaard

    preferred to portray the wild untamed side of nature over placid scenes. His painting View

    to Frederiksvrk from Tisvilde Forest8 portrays a prominent forest with a large lake in the

    background. The wildness of the scene was common to Skovgaard as well as the dark

    mood of the subject. In later years Skovgaard would move onto much more peaceful

    paintings. He began painting idealized nature, when the sap was rising highest, or when

    trees were fully grown and beautiful. His painting, Beach Forest in May9 represents his

    later style. The painting has a young couple standing together on a path surrounded by a

    vast forest. The trees within the forest appear to be ripe with life under a beautiful blue sky.

    Skovgaard added tiny details to contribute to the mood of the scene such as a group of

    children and also a dog. Although the young couple is where the eye is led immediately,

    the large forest overshadows them and is the focal point of the artwork.

    7 Skovgaard and Lundbye developed a close friendship at the academy8 See appendix F9 See appendix G

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    Vilhelm Kyhn, another notable Danish landscape painter was born March 30, 1819.

    However unlike Skovgaard and Lundbye, he was not allowed to study art as a young

    teenager because his father was against his dreams of becoming an artist. However, he

    went on to study at The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts in 1836 at the age of

    seventeen. Kyhn released his first landscape painting A View of the Beach on

    Bornholm10 in 1845. This first piece was close to Kyhns heart because it was one of his

    favorite places he often visited. A depiction of rolling hills covered with varying foliage is

    present within the scene. A winding path towards the beach is the focal point of the piece

    and the water is present on the left and right sides of the artwork. The artwork was later

    purchased by the Danish Royal Painting Collection. Kyhn is not well-known in the art

    world because his talent was restricted. He lacked Lundbyes poetic style and Skovgaards

    strong sense of form. The only reason Kyhn is recognized is because he presented a fresh

    and original feeling for nature within his works.

    Contrary to popular belief, Scandinavia has produced great art throughout history.

    During the Romantic era many artists arose to great prominence in Scandinavia. Hans

    Gude was best known for his depictions of the coast in Norway. Lars Hetervig is

    distinguished by his somber yet upbeat illustrations of Norwegian landscapes. Norwegian

    painter Johan Thomas Lundbye is famous for incorporating children and animals into his

    pieces. Danish man Vilhelm Kyhn presented deep feeling for nature within his works. Peter

    Skovgaard searched deep into nature to give his very own unique view of Danish

    landscapes. Johan Dahl rose to fame as the father of modern Norwegian landscape

    painting. Landscape painters of the 1800s in Scandinavia represented the typical romantic

    characteristics in Europe.

    10 See appendix H

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    Appendix A

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    Hans Gude

    Mountain Heights

    Appendix B

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    Hans Gude

    Bridal Procession in Hardanger

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    Appendix C

    Lars HetervigAncient Pine Forest

    Appendix D

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    Johan Dahl

    Stalheim

    Appendix E

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    Johan Thomas LundbyeTwo Cows in an Open Field

    Appendix F

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    Peter Christian Thamsen SkovgaardView to Frederiksvrk from Tisvilde Forest

    Appendix G

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    Peter SkovgaardBeach Forest in May

    Appendix H

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    Vilhelm KyhnA View of the Beach on Bornholm

    Bibliography

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    "Hans Gude ."gonorway.net. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Nov. 2011..

    "Johan Lundbye ." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. N.p., n.d. Web. 3 Nov. 2011. .

    Laurin, Carl G., Emil Hannover, and Jens Thiis. Scandinavian art. New York: B. Blom,

    1968. Print.

    Little, Stephen. -isms: understanding art. New York: Universe, 2004. Print.

    "P. C. Skovgaard - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

    N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Nov. 2011. .

    Stokstad, Marilyn, Marion Spears Grayson, and Stephen Addiss.Art history. New York:

    H.N. Abrams, 1995. Print.

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    Uncovering

    Scandinavian

    Romanticism

    Madison Crawford

    November 2011