Harald Sohlberg. Infinite Landscapes
In his art, Harald Sohlberg (1869–1935) focused primarily on the Norwegian landscape. His pictures show specific places, but also landscapes of the mind, of thought and eternity. This exhibition explored the full breadth of Sohlberg’s artistic career.
Sohlberg focused on parts of Norway that had attracted little interest among other artists. With his pictures he helped places such as Røros and Rondane to establish cultural and artistic identities. Despite their apparent realism, his paintings stand aloof from time and geographic location.
The exhibition showed the range and ambiguity of Sohlberg’s art. His pictures are mysterious and thought provoking. Images of tranquil summer nights convey the beauty of nature, while at the same time arousing a sense of disquiet. His rich colours appeal to our intuitions and emotions. He explores hidden connections between the outer perceptible world and the inner essence of the human condition.
In many of Sohlberg’s landscapes the absence of people is striking, not least because they contain so many indications of human life – houses, roads and telegraph poles. The tension Sohlberg captures between tradition and modernity makes his visual universe exceptional in both Norwegian and international contexts. His themes and painting technique distinguish him from his contemporaries, but also define him as unique and enduringly relevant.
Menneskets indre vesen
Utstillingen viser bredden og tvetydigheten i Sohlbergs kunst. Bildene er mystiske og tankevekkende. Stille sommernattsmotiver beskriver naturens skjønnhet, men kan samtidig vekke uro.
Fargesterke malerier appellerer til intuisjon og følelser. De tar for seg de skjulte sammenhengene mellom den ytre sansbare verden og menneskets indre vesen.
I mange av landskapsmaleriene er fraværet av mennesker påfallende, fordi de samtidig inneholder spor etter menneskelig aktivitet, som hus, veier og telegrafstolper.
The exhibition brings together works from throughout Sohlberg’s career. It examines his working methods, and shows how he developed and implemented his ideas. Variations on the same scene illustrate different aspects of his artistic process. On show are some 60 paintings, together with drawings, sketches, print works and photographs.
In 2019, the exhibition will travel to the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London and the Museum Wiesbaden in Germany, to mark the 150th anniversary of the artist’s birth. This will be the first time Sohlberg’s art has been presented to such a broad European audience.
The exhibition is accompanied by a richly illustrated catalogue and a children’s book about Harald Sohlberg. Both publications will be available in Norwegian, English and German.
Contact
General: info@nasjonalmuseet.no, +47 21 98 20 00
Press Contact: Elise Lund
Exhibition Curator: Mai Britt Guleng
Curator Education: Ellen Lerberg
Project Manager: Rikke Lundgreen