Kristian Birkeland

Kristian Birkeland is particularly known for his pioneering auroral research on the northern lights. And, theorized about solar wind’s interaction with Earth’s magnetic field, laying the foundations for modern space physics decades before satellites confirmed his ideas. 

His research also led to the invention of nitric acid, which again, laid the groundwork for for one of Norway's largest industrial ventures - Norsk Hydro - now Yara. 

Asta Nørregaard was known for her portraits of professors and scientists.  

And, although we don’t know for certain how this particular assignment came to be, it was probably their mutual close friend Kaja Geelmuyden, who brought them together.  

Nørregaard painted two portraits of Kristian Birkeland, as well as a drawing that today hangs in the Academy of Sciences in Oslo. 

In this oil painting, Birkeland is depicted in the laboratory surrounded by scientific props, posing as the successful scientist that he was.
Afterall, he was one of Norway's leading scientists, and was nominated for the Nobel Prize seven times, both in physics and chemistry.