Night in Telemark

Henrik Sørensen painted both human figures and nature throughout his entire career, and Night inTelemark is a fine example of his lyrical, atmospheric landscapes. Using succulent colours and forceful brushstrokes, he manages to conjure up some of the nature that typifies Telemark. Tall, forested hills and green vegetation dominate the middle ground and the background, while the foreground features a hay barn, grey from exposure to the elements. The dark hues permeating the entire composition underscore the mystical, magical nature of the Nordic summer night.

Sørensen returned to Norway in 1927 after a lengthy stay in Paris. He bought a summer residence in Holmsbu south of Oslo, and travelled intermittently around Eastern Norway. His travels to Telemark and Gudbrandsdalen in particular resulted in many landscape paintings, but it is above all his depictions of the secluded nature of Telemark that evoke a sense of mysticism and nocturnal serenity. Similar to the romantic painters, Sørensen sought to capture what was primevally Norwegian in his landscape paintings. An intriguing paradox in his paintings is their combination of romantic, Norwegian landscapes with French learning and influence, including from Henri Matisse. Sørensen’s interest in nature, legends, and folklore is also evident from his portrayals of the celebrated fiddler Myllarguten and Tone Veli, a figure invented by Sørensen himself.

Henrik Sørensen remained a leading figure in the Norwegian art community for decades. He also received several commissions to decorate public buildings, the most important of which are Oslo City Hall and the Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.