Christian Krohg (13 August 1852 – 16 October 1925) was a Norwegian
naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist. Krohg was inspired by the
realism art movement
Realism was an artistic movement that emerged in France in the 1840s, around the 1848 Revolution. Realists rejected Romanticism, which had dominated French literature and art since the early 19th century. Realism revolted against the exotic sub ...
and often chose motifs from everyday life. He was the director and served as the first professor at the
Norwegian Academy of Arts from 1909 to 1925.
Biography
Christian Krohg was born at
Vestre Aker
Vestre Aker (Western Aker) is a borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. It has a population of 50,157 as of 2020.
The previous Aker Municipality was merged into the city of Oslo in 1948.
The borough of Vestre Aker was organized as part of the 1 Ja ...
(now Oslo), Norway. He was one of five children born to Georg Anton Krohg (1817–1873) and Sophie Amalia Holst (1822–1861). He was a grandson of
Christian Krohg (1777–1828) who had served as a government minister. His father was a civil servant, journalist and author. His mother died when he was only 8 years old, and his father's sister took over responsibility for the household and the upbringing of the children. From 1861, he attended
Hartvig Nissen School
The Hartvig Nissen School ( no, Hartvig Nissens skole), informally referred to as Nissen, is a gymnasium in Oslo, Norway. It is located in the neighborhood Uranienborg in the affluent West End borough of Frogner. It is Norway's oldest high schoo ...
.
His father had asked him to pursue a legal career. Krohg studied law at the
University of Oslo
The University of Oslo ( no, Universitetet i Oslo; la, Universitas Osloensis) is a public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the highest ranked and oldest university in Norway. It is consistently ranked among the top universit ...
(then
Christiania) graduating
cand.jur. in 1873, the same year in which his father died. During 1869–70, he had also studied at the art school of
Johan Fredrik Eckersberg
Johan Fredrik Eckersberg (16 June 1822 – 13 July 1870) was a Norwegian painter most noted for his landscapes. Eckersberg was a prominent figure in the transition from Romanticism to Realism in 19th-century Norwegian art, both as an artistic p ...
at
Lille Grensen in Christiania. He was additionally educated in Germany, first at the
Baden School of Art in
Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe ( , , ; South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the third-largest city of the German state (''Land'') of Baden-Württemberg after its capital of Stuttgart and Mannheim, and the 22nd-largest city in the nation, with 308,436 inhabitants. ...
under
Hans Gude
Hans Fredrik Gude (March 13, 1825August 17, 1903) was a Norwegian romanticist painter and is considered along with Johan Christian Dahl to be one of Norway's foremost landscape painters. He has been called a mainstay of Norwegian National Roma ...
in 1874. He also trained under
Karl Gussow
Karl Gussow (25 February 1843, Havelberg – 27 March 1907, Munich) was a German painter and university professor.
Life and work
His early inclination to art was encouraged by his family so, as soon as he completed his secondary schooling, he wa ...
from 1875. He followed with study at the
Königliche Akademie in
Berlin
Berlin ( , ) is the capital and List of cities in Germany by population, largest city of Germany by both area and population. Its 3.7 million inhabitants make it the European Union's List of cities in the European Union by population within ci ...
from 1875 to 1878.
He was awarded the Schäffer's legacy (1876–77) and received a government travel allowance during 1877–78 and in 1881. In 1879, on the encouragement of artist
Frits Thaulow
Frits Thaulow (20 October 1847 – 5 November 1906) was a Norwegian Impressionist painter, best known for his naturalistic depictions of landscape.
Biography
Johan Frederik Thaulow was born in Christiania, the son of a wealthy chemist, Haral ...
, he visited the
Skagen artists colony. He returned to
Skagen
Skagen () is Denmark's northernmost town, on the east coast of the Skagen Odde peninsula in the far north of Jutland, part of Frederikshavn Municipality in Nordjylland, north of Frederikshavn and northeast of Aalborg. The Port of Skage ...
in 1882–84 and 1888. Through his periodic future residence at Skagen, he would influence other artists including
Anna
Anna may refer to:
People Surname and given name
* Anna (name)
Mononym
* Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke
* Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773)
* Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th century)
* Anna (Anisia) (fl. 1218 to 12 ...
and
Michael Ancher
Michael Peter Ancher (9 June 1849 – 19 September 1927) was a Danish realist artist, and widely known for his paintings of fishermen, the lakes, and other scenes from the Danish fishing community in Skagen.
Early life and education
Michael ...
and provided early support to
Edvard Munch.
Krohg worked in
Paris
Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...
from 1881 to 1882. Inspired by the ideas of the
realists he chose motifs primarily from everyday life – often its darker or socially inferior sides. Prostitution is the subject of his painting ''
Albertine i politilægens venteværelse
''Albertine in the Police Doctor's Waiting-Room'' ( no, Albertine i politilægens venteværelse; completed 1887) is a naturalist painting by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg, showing the scene in a medical waiting-room.
''Albertine in the P ...
'', and Krohg also wrote a novel about the depicted scene. The novel, ''
Albertine'', caused a scandal when first published, and it was confiscated by the police.
Krohg's style made him a leading figure in the transition from
romanticism
Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic, literary, musical, and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century, and in most areas was at its peak in the approximate ...
to
naturalism.
Krohg was the founding and editor-in-chief of the
Kristiania Bohemian journal, ''
Impressionisten'' from 1886 until 1890. He then became a journalist for the
Oslo
Oslo ( , , or ; sma, Oslove) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population ...
newspaper ''
Verdens Gang
''Verdens Gang'' ("The course of the world"), generally known under the abbreviation ''VG'', is a Norwegian tabloid newspaper. In 2016, circulation numbers stood at 93,883, having declined from a peak circulation of 390,510 in 2002. ''VG'' is n ...
'' from 1890 to 1910. Christian Krohg was also associated with ''Politiken'' 1893–1894.
He taught at
Académie Colarossi in Paris from 1902 until 1909. Later he became a professor-director at the
Norwegian Academy of Arts (''Statens Kunstakademi'') from 1909 until 1925.
There are notable collections of art by Christian Krohg in the
National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
* National, Maryland, c ...
in Oslo and at
Skagens Museum
Skagens Museum is an art museum in Skagen, Denmark, that exhibits an extensive collection of works by members of the colony of Skagen Painters who lived and worked in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Important artists include ...
in Denmark.
Awards and honors
Christian Krohg received numerous national and international awards during his career. In 1889, he was made a Knight in the French
Legion of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon ...
and entered in the Belgian
Order of Leopold in 1894.
He served as Norwegian Commissioner at the
Exposition Internationale d'Anvers at
Antwerp in 1894 and held membership in the Societe Nouvelle de Peintres et de Sculpteurs from 1900. Krohg was made a Knight 1st Class in the
Order of St. Olav in 1900 and received the Command Cross in 1910.
Personal life
He was married to artist
Oda Krohg
Oda Krohg (born Othilia Pauline Christine Lasson; 11 June 1860 – 19 October 1935) was a Norwegian painter, and the wife of her teacher and colleague Christian Krohg.
Biography
She was the second daughter of public attorney Christian ...
(née Lasson; 1860–1935). In 1885, their daughter Nana (1885–1974) was born and in 1889 their son muralist
Per Lasson Krohg (1889–1965). In 1888 Oda obtained a divorce from her first husband Jørgen Engelhardt; they were married in that same year. In 1897, his wife took their son Per and moved to Paris with dramatist
Gunnar Heiberg. They were later reconciled. In 1914, Christian Krohg established residence near
Frogner Park
Frogner Park ( no, Frognerparken) is a public park located in the West End borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The park is historically part of Frogner Manor, and the manor house is located in the south of the park, and houses Oslo Museum. Both ...
where he died in 1925. Oda Krohg died in 1935. Both were buried at
Vår Frelsers gravlund
The Cemetery of Our Saviour ( no, Vår Frelsers gravlund) is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It is located adjacent to the older Old Aker Cemetery and was created in 1808 as a result of the great ...
in Oslo.
A bronze statue of Krohg by sculptors
Per Hurum and
Asbjørg Borgfelt was erected at the crossing of Lille Grensen-Karl Johans gate in Oslo in 1960.
Gallery
Portraits
File:Gerhard Munthe (1849).jpg, ''Portrait of the Painter Gerhard Munthe
Gerhard Peter Frantz Munthe (19 July 1849 in Elverum, Hedmark – 15 January 1929 in Lysaker, Bærum) was a Norwegian painter and illustrator.
Background
Munthe was born in Elverum to physician Christopher Pavels Munthe (1816–1884) and his ...
''
File:Christian Krohg - Portrait of the Painter Oda Krohg, b. Lasson - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Oda Krohg'' (Portrait of Oda Krohg. 1888)
File:Christian Krohg - self-portrait (1912).jpg, ''Selvportrett med staffeli'' (Self-portrait with easel. 1912)
Social realism
Image:Christian Krohg - Albertine to see the Police Surgeon - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Albertine i politilægens venteværelse
''Albertine in the Police Doctor's Waiting-Room'' ( no, Albertine i politilægens venteværelse; completed 1887) is a naturalist painting by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg, showing the scene in a medical waiting-room.
''Albertine in the P ...
'' (Albertine at the Police Doctor's Waiting Room, 1885–87)
Image:Christian Krohg-Sovende mor med barn 1883.jpg, ''Sovende mor med barn'' (Sleeping mother with child. 1883)
File:Christian Krohg - Braiding her Hair - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Håret flettes'' (The hair is being braided. 1882)
File:Christian Krohg - Tired - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Trett'' (Tired. 1885)
Christian Krohg - Leiv Eirikson discovering America - Google Art Project.jpg, '' Leiv Eriksson oppdager Amerika'' (Leiv Eirikson Discovering America. 1893)
Image:Christian Krohg - Babord litt.jpg, ''Babord litt'' (Port side. 1879)
Image:Christian Krohg - Silda Kommer - IMG 9340.jpg, ''Silda Kommer'' (Herring upcoming)
Image:Krohg-17.mai.1893.jpg, '' 17 mai 1893'' (May 17, 1893)
References
Other sources
*Thue, Oscar (1997) ''Christian Krohg'' (Oaslo: Aschehoug)
*Thue, Oscar (1971) ''Christian Krohgs portretter'' (Oslo: Gyldendal)
* Bryne, Arvid (2009) ''Christian Krohg. Journalisten'' (Oslo: Unipub Forlag)
External links
Christian Krohg at the National Museum (Oslo)Christian Krohg at Skagens MuseumDigitized books by Christian Krohgat
National Library of Norway
The National Library of Norway ( no, Nasjonalbiblioteket) was established in 1989. Its principal task is "to preserve the past for the future". The library is located both in Oslo and in Mo i Rana. The building in Oslo was restored and reopened ...
*
*
MyNDIR (My Norse Digital Image Repository)Illustrations created by Christian Krohg for the 1899 and 1900 editions of the Norwegian editions of Heimskringla. Clicking on the thumbnail will give you the full image and information concerning it.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Krohg, Christian
1852 births
1925 deaths
University of Oslo alumni
Artists from Oslo
Writers from Oslo
Norwegian journalists
Norwegian editors
Skagen Painters
Realist artists
19th-century journalists
19th-century Norwegian male writers
19th-century Norwegian painters
19th-century Norwegian writers
20th-century Norwegian writers
20th-century Norwegian painters
Norwegian male painters
20th-century male writers
Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal
Recipients of the Legion of Honour
Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour
19th-century Norwegian male artists
20th-century Norwegian male artists