Christian Krohg

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the politician of the same name, see Christian Krohg (government minister).

Christian Krohg, photograph by Martin Finborud

Christian Krohg (August 13, 1852 – October 16, 1925), was a Norwegian naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist.

Krohg studied law at the University of Oslo (then Christiania) (1869-73) and was educated in Germany at the Baden School of Art in Karlsruhe under Hans Gude^[1], and later worked in Paris from 1881 to 1882. Inspired by the thoughts of the realists he chose motives primarily from everyday life – often its darker or socially inferior sides. Particularly well known are his pictures of prostitutes, and his novel Albertine from 1886 is about this theme. The book caused a scandal when first published, and was confiscated by the police. (See also related painting in the gallery below). Krohg’s powerful and straightforward style made him one of the leading figures in the transition from romanticism to naturalism, characteristic of Norwegian art in this period. Through his periodic residence at Skagen, where he arrived for the first time in 1879, he had great influence on Anna and Michael Ancher, and provided early support to Edvard Munch.

Krohg was a journalist in the Oslo newspaper Verdens Gang 1890-1910, where he wrote remarkable portrait interviews. Later he became a professor director at Statens Kunstakademi (The Norwegian Academy of Arts) 1909-1925.

He was married to Oda Krohg and the father of Per Lasson Krohg.

[edit] Paintings

«Albertine i politilægens venteværelse» (Albertine at the Police Doctor's Waiting Room), 1885-87 at National Gallery of Norway, related to his novel Albertine	«Kampen for tilværelsen» (Struggle for existence) 1888-89 300x225cm in the National Gallery of Norway	«Trett» (Tired)	«Selvportrett med staffeli» (Self-portrait with easel)
«Sovende mor med barn» (Sleeping mother with child)	«Håret flettes» (The hair is being braided)	«17. mai» (17 May)	«Oda Krohg» 1886
King Erik Bloodaxe is instigated by his wife Gunnhild to kill the Finnish wizards