February will see the first ever exhibition outside of Norway of Harald Sohlberg (1869–1935), one of the greatest masters of landscape painting in the history of Norwegian art. Timed to coincide with the 150th anniversary of Sohlberg’s birth, it will bring together over 90 works, including archive material, to reveal the importance of colour and symbolism in his art as well as his unwavering passion for the Nordic landscape.
The exhibition will begin with two self-portraits, and will consider Sohlberg’s identity and early development; in particular, how he found his subject in the Norwegian landscape. It will highlight the significance and emergence of colour in his work as well as the influence of Symbolist art and thinking, particularly in his exploration of the popular, and mysterious, 19th-century theme of the mermaid. The exhibition will also introduce visitors to Sohlberg’s celebration of the rural landscapes of Norway, providing a snapshot of his time. Works such as Summer Night (1899) and Sun Gleam (1894), reveal one of Sohlberg’s characteristic interests in alluding to the human narrative in his paintings, despite the absence of any figures.
Although Sohlberg studied and travelled abroad, it was in the villages and nature of Norway that he truly found his voice. The exhibition will give particular focus to Sohlberg’s paintings in and around the small mining town of Røros, now a UNESCO World Heritage site, that sits high on the mountain plains of central Norway. He lived there with his wife from 1902-1905 and the town’s colourful, wooden houses – in stark contrast to a bright, white snow – inspired a large body of his paintings and studies including Street in Røros in Winter (1903).
Harald Sohlberg: Painting Norway is on at the Dulwich Picture Gallery, Gallery Road, SE21 7AD from 13th February – 2nd June 2019. Times: 10am – 5pm, Tuesday – Sunday. Admission: £16.50 Adult; £15.50 Senior Citizens; £8 Concessions. Phone: 020 8693 5254.