Night in Telemark

  • Artist: Henrik Sørensen
  • Creation date: 1927
  • Object type: Painting

Not on display

About

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.

Text: Ellen J. Lerberg

From "Highlights. Art from Antiquity to 1945", Nasjonalmuseet 2014, ISBN 978-82-8154-088-0

Artist/producer

Henrik Sørensen

Visual artist

Born 1882 in Fryksände, death 1962 in Oslo

Work info

Creation date:
1927
Other titles:
Telemarksnatt (NOR)
Object type:
Materials and techniques:
Olje på lerret
Material:
Dimensions:
  • Width: 107 cm
  • Height: 96 cm
  • Depth: 2.6 cm
Keywords:
Classification:
Motif:
Acquisition:
Acquired 1987
Inventory no.:
NG.M.03734
Cataloguing level:
Single object
Owner and collection:
Nasjonalmuseet for kunst, arkitektur og design, The Fine Art Collections
Photo:
Høstland, Børre
Copyright:
© Sørensen, Henrik/BONO