Nikolai Astrup

Nikolai Johannes Astrup was born in the village of Kalvåg on the island of Frøya in Norway. Astrup grew up in Ålhus in rural Jølster between the Sognefjord and the Nordfjord. He was the eldest son of eleven children born to Christian Astrup (1844–1919) who was a parish priest at Ålhus Church in Jølster. Astrup was the great-grandson of Nils Astrup (1778–1835), a member of the Norwegian Parliament. Astrup's father wanted him to become a priest and sent him to Trondheim Cathedral School from 1895 to 1897. However, Astrup failed his Latin exams as he was more interested in drawing and painting. In 1899, Astrup left for Kristiania (now Oslo) where he matriculated as student at the Royal Academy of Design. Astrup quickly left to join Harriet Backer's painting school where he studied until 1901. Astrup lived in Paris where he studied at the Académie Julian and was a student of Christian Krohg at Académie Colarossi from 1901 to 1902. Astrup later traveled to Berlin, Dresden, Munich, and Hamburg.{{cite encyclopedia|year=2009|title=Astrup|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|editor=Arntzen, Jon Gunnar|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/Astrup|language=Norwegian|access-date=15 November 2010}}{{cite encyclopedia|year=2009|title=Harriet Backer|encyclopedia=Store norske leksikon|editor=Fredheim, Arnt|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/Harriet_Backer|language=Norwegian|access-date=15 November 2010}}{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Harriet Backer – utdypning (NBL-artikkel)|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Marit|last=Lange|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Harriet_Backer/utdypning|language=Norwegian|access-date=15 November 2010}}{{cite web|url =https://snl.no/Christian_Krohg|title=Christian Krohg|publisher = Store norske leksikon |author= Tore Kirkholt|access-date= April 1, 2018}} By 1902, he had returned to and settled in Jølster. In 1911, Astrup studied under Lovis Corinth in Berlin at Arthur Lewin-Funcke's school of Painting.

Astrup held three significant exhibitions during his lifetime; at Kristiania 1905 and 1911 and at Bergen in 1908. In 1907, he was married to Engel Sunde with whom he had eight children. Astrup struggled with tuberculosis and general poor health as his asthma worsened. In 1913, Astrup settled with his wife and children in Sandalstrand (now Astruptunet) on the south side of Lake Jølstravatn across from the village of Ålhus. He died of pneumonia in 1928 at the age of 47 in the neighboring municipality of Førde.{{cite encyclopedia|year=|title=Nikolai Astrup – utdypning (NBL-artikkel)|encyclopedia=Norsk biografisk leksikon|first=Loge|last=Øystein|editor=Helle, Knut|editor-link=Knut Helle|publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget|location=Oslo|url=http://www.snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Nikolai_Astrup/utdypning|language=Norwegian|access-date=15 November 2010}}{{cite web|url= https://leksikon.fylkesarkivet.no/article/3cfeb27c-72c0-4fa5-b7c7-e9c57e918f46/|title=Astrup-steinen|publisher = Kulturhistorisk leksikon|access-date= April 1, 2018}} Astrup was buried in Ålhus Cemetery, in Jølster Norway.

Image:N Astrup-Sjølvportrett.jpg|Selfportrait, 1904

Image:Bernhard Folkestad - Portrett av Nikolai Astrup.jpg|Portrait of Nikolai
Bernhard Folkestad (1879 –1933)

Image:Nikolai Astrup av Henrik Lund 1900.jpg|Nikolai Astrup
Henrik Lund (1879-1935)

Astrup preferred clear, strong colors and usually made landscape art depicting his surroundings in Jølster. Having spent the majority of his life in Jølster, the landscape proved a strong influence and through his paintings he sought 'a national "visual language" that evoked the traditions and folklore of his homeland'.Dulwich Picture Gallery, [http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2016/february/painting-norway-nikolai-astrup-(1880-1928)/ "Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161019141016/http://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/whats-on/exhibitions/2016/february/painting-norway-nikolai-astrup-(1880-1928)/ |date=2016-10-19 }}, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway, 5 February 2016 - 15 May 2016, 11 Jan 2016.

His paintings describe an intimate interaction between nature and the developed environment, characterized by bold lines and distinctive rich color. Astrup is regarded as a neo-romantic painter, but he also worked with woodcuts. Astrup is looked upon as one of the greatest Norwegian artists of the early 1900s, and several of his paintings have been sold at auctions for approximately US$500,000. Astrup's works have been likened to those of his contemporary Edvard Munch, though Astrup's style has been described as being 'so much brighter – not just in colour, but also in mood'.Jonathan Jones,[https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/dec/30/nikolai-astrup-lost-artist-norway-edvard-munch"Nikolai Astrup: the lost artist of Norway"], The Guardian, 30 December 2015.

The first exhibition of Astrup's work outside of Norway took place in London at Dulwich Picture Gallery, from 5 February - 15 May 2016.{{Cite web |last=Jones |first=Johnathan |date=2015-12-30 |title=Nikolai Astrup: the lost artist of Norway |url=http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/jonathanjonesblog/2015/dec/30/nikolai-astrup-lost-artist-norway-edvard-munch |access-date=2022-04-03 |website=The Guardian |language=en}} The exhibition displayed over 90 oil paintings and prints, including works from private collections never publicly exhibited.[https://www.dulwichpicturegallery.org.uk/about/press-media/press-releases/dulwich-presents-first-uk-show-dedicated-to-landscape-painter-and-printmaker-nikolai-astrup-1880-1928/ Dulwich presents first UK show dedicated to landscape painter and printmaker, Nikolai Astrup], Dulwich Picture Gallery (5 February - 15 May 2016) In 2021 Astrup's work was the subject of the large survey exhibition Nikolai Astrup: Visions of Norway at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Massachusetts in the United States.{{Cite web|url=https://www.clarkart.edu/microsites/nikolai-astrup-visions-of-norway/exhibition|title = About the Exhibition}}{{Cite magazine |last=Schjeldahl |first=Peter |date=2021-07-15 |title=Have You Heard of Nikolai Astrup? |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/07/26/have-you-heard-of-nikolai-astrup |access-date=2022-04-03 |magazine=The New Yorker |language=en-US}}

• Finnes Grant (1902)
• Schäffers Grant (1906)
• Henrichsen Scholarship (1908)
• A. C. Houen Grant (1910–11)
• Conrad Mohrs Grant (1918–19)

File:Nikolai Astrups staffeli.JPG

[http://kodebergen.no/en KODE], Bergen's largest museum for paintings, has devoted one wing entirely to Astrup's life and work.{{cite web

|url = http://kodebergen.no/en/exhibitions/nikolai-astrup-%E2%80%93-out-shadows|title= Nikolai Astrup. Out of The Shadows|publisher = kodebergen.no|access-date= April 1, 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.ba.no/kultur/kode/pulsen/disse-tegningene-har-aldri-blitt-vist/s/5-8-259091|title=Disse tegningene har aldri blitt vist|publisher= BA Bergenasvien|author= Ørjan Nilsson|date=21 January 2016 |access-date= April 1, 2018}}

In 2018, Mount Eerie released a song titled "Two Paintings by Nikolai Astrup" from their album Now Only.

• Tun i Jølster, (1902)
• Stabbur i Jølster, (before 1905)
• Kvennagong, (before 1905)
• A Clear Night in June, (1905–07){{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nikolai-astrup-visions-of-norway-review-green-territory-11624705201 |title='Nikolai Astrup: Visions of Norway' Review: Green Territory |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date= 26 June 2021|access-date=28 June 2021|last1= Dobrzynski|first1= Judith H.}}
• Prestegården, (before 1907)
• Grå vårkveld, (1907)
• Juninatt og gammelt vestlandstun, (before 1908)
• Kollen, (1908)
• Vårnatt i hagen, (1909)
• Grå vårkveld og blomstrende frukttrær, (1909){{cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/ukjent-nikolai-astrup-maleri-oppdaga-i-usa-1.15549781 |title=Ukjend Nikolai Astrup-måleri oppdaga i USA |website=www.nrk.no |date= 28 June 2021|access-date=28 June 2021}}
• Midsummer Eve bonfire{{cite news |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/nikolai-astrup-visions-of-norway-review-green-territory-11624705201 |title='Nikolai Astrup: Visions of Norway' Review: Green Territory |newspaper=Wall Street Journal |date= 26 June 2021|access-date=28 June 2021|last1= Dobrzynski|first1= Judith H.}} (Norwegian: Jonsokbål), (1912–26)
• Vårstemning, (before 1914)
• Priseld, (1915)
• Revebjelle, (ca. 1920)
• Interiør med vugge, (ca. 1920)
• Rhubarb at Sandalstrand, (after 1925){{cite web |url=https://www.nrk.no/kultur/ukjent-nikolai-astrup-maleri-oppdaga-i-usa-1.15549781 |title=Ukjend Nikolai Astrup-måleri oppdaga i USA |website=www.nrk.no |date= 28 June 2021|access-date=28 June 2021}}

File:N Astrup-Svanøybukta.jpg|{{small|Svanøybukta}}

File:N Astrup-Kl 2 juninat.jpg|{{small|Kl. 2 Julinat}}

File:N Astrup-St. Hansbål ved Jølstervatnet.jpg|{{small|St. Hansbål ved Jølstervatnet}}

File:N Astrup-Fjøsfrieri.jpg|{{small|Fjøsfrieri}}

File:N Astrup-Fugl på sten.jpg|{{small|Fugl på sten}}

File:N Astrup-Klar juninatt.jpg|{{small|Klar juninatt}}

File:N Astrup-Kornstaur.jpg|{{small|Kornstaur}}

File:N Astrup-Kjerringa med lykta.jpg|{{small|Kjerringa med lykta}}

File:N Astrup-Martzmorgen.jpg|{{small|Martzmorgen}}

File:N Astrup-Vårnatt og seljekall.jpg|{{small|Vårnatt og seljekall}}

File:Nikolai Astrup-Soleienatt.jpg|{{small|Soleienatt}}

File:N Astrup-Natt.jpg|{{small|Natt}}

File:N Astrup-Prestegårdshagen.jpg|{{small|Prestegårdshagen}}

File:N Astrup-Rabarbra.jpg|{{small|Rabarbra}}

File:Nikolai Astrup-Vårkveld ved Jølstervannet.jpg|{{small|Vårkveld ved Jølstervannet 1900}}

File:N Astrup-Vårnatt i hagen.jpg|{{small|Vårnatt i hagen}}

Image:N Astrup-Foss og bre.jpg|{{small|Foss og bre}}

Image:N Astrup-Liten kornstaur.jpg|{{small|Liten kornstaur}}

Image:N Astrup-Plognatten.jpg|{{small|Plognatten}}

Image:N Astrup-St. Hans-bål.jpg|{{small|St. Hansbål}}

Image:N Astrup-Maimåne.jpg|{{small|Maimåne}}

Image:N Astrup-Vinternatt.jpg|{{small|Vinternatt}}

Image:Nikolai Astrup-Gammel fisker.jpg|{{small|Gammel fisker}}

Image:Nikolai Astrup-Akt tresnitt.jpg|{{small|Akt}}

{{Reflist|2}}

{{Commons}}

• {{Cite book |last=Loge |first=Øystein |title=Gartneren under regnbuen |publisher=(Oslo: Dreyer)|year=1986 |isbn=82-90646-05-4 |language=Norwegian }}
• {{Cite book |last1=Wexelsen |first1=Einar |last2=Danbolt |first2=Gunnar |authorlink2=Gunnar Danbolt |last3=Loge |first3=Øystein |title=Nikolai Astrup – Tilhørighet og identitet |publisher=(Jamestown, NY: Labyrinth Press) |year=2005 |isbn=82-7393-147-1 |language=Norwegian }}
• {{Cite book |last=Kristiansen |first=Runar |title=Edvard Munch, Nikolai Astrup, Rolf Nesch, Ludvig Eikaas |publisher=(Skei i Jølster)|year=1998 |isbn=82-91882-01-0 }}

• [https://nikolai-astrup.no/en/astruptunet-the-artisthome/ Astruptunet – The Artist Home and studio]
• [http://www.kodebergen.no/en kodebergen.no]
• [http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/nrk_sogn_og_fjordane/fylkesleksikon/1164689.html NRK Sogn og Fjordane on Astrup] {{in lang|no}}
• [http://astruptunet.com/ astruptunet.com] {{in lang|no}}

{{Authority control (arts)}}

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Category:1880 births

Category:1928 deaths

Category:Deaths from pneumonia in Norway

Category:People from Bremanger

Category:Norwegian landscape painters

Category:19th-century Norwegian painters

Category:19th-century Norwegian male artists

Category:20th-century Norwegian painters

Category:Norwegian male painters

Category:20th-century Norwegian male artists