Erik Werenskiold

Erik Theodor Werenskiold ( born February 11, 1855 in Eidskog, † November 23, 1938 in Oslo) was a Norwegian painter and draftsman. He is particularly known for his drawings of Asbjørnsen and Moe's collection of Norwegian folk tales and in his respective illustrations to Snorre.

Life and career

Erik Werenskiold grew up in the fortress town of Kongsvinger, where his father, Captain Frederik Daniel Werenskiold, commander was. In 1872 he took up his studies, but began shortly thereafter to take on the advice of Adolph Tidemand at the Royal Norwegian art school in Christiania at Julius Middel Thun drawing lessons. In the fall of 1875 he traveled to Munich, where he stayed four years. There he was present at an international exhibition that opened his eyes to the French plein air painting and naturalism. Werenskiold moved to Paris in 1881, to study on your own.

1883 Werenskiold returned back to Norway. He made several representations of Norwegian farmers in rural environment, as well as portraits of famous personalities such as Bjørnstjerne Bjørnson and Henrik Ibsen. With fairy tale illustrations, he had already begun during his stay in Munich. In 1879 he illustrated the Norske folke -og huldreeventyr and sat from 1882 to 1887, together with Theodor Kittelsen with the three-volume Eventyrbog for Børn continued. These drawings were summarized in 1910 in a special deluxe edition. With its peculiar fusion of reality and fantasy, this met the mood of the Norwegian fairy tale. Furthermore illustrated Werenskiold a deluxe edition Snorri Sturluson king legends and Jonas Lies families paa Gilje (1903 ).

Werenskiold was coined in the 1880s and 1890s greatly from naturalism, but later withdrew it and was newer directions within the Norwegian painting closer. He created wall decorations with fairy tale motifs Fridtjof Nansen for Villa in Lysaker, drawings for lock fittings and much more.

Erik Werenskiold had two sons, Werner (1883-1961) and Dagfin ( 1892-1977 ). Werner was a geologist while Dagfin followed in the footsteps of his father, a painter and sculptor was.