Jóhannes Sveinsson Kjarval (15 October 1885 – 13 April 1972) was an
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
ic
painter. He is considered one of the most important artists of
Iceland
Iceland is a Nordic countries, Nordic island country between the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic and Arctic Oceans, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between North America and Europe. It is culturally and politically linked with Europe and is the regi ...
. His son is interior designer
Sveinn Kjarval.
Early life
Born into poverty, Kjarval was adopted and as a young man worked as a fisherman. He spent his spare time drawing and painting, and learned basic skills from artist
Ásgrímur Jónsson. At age 27, with financial support from fishermen and the
Icelandic Confederation of Labour, he passed an entrance examination and was admitted to the
Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, where he completed his studies. During his time in Copenhagen, he became acquainted with various styles including
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement characterized by visible brush strokes, open Composition (visual arts), composition, emphasis on accurate depiction of light in its changing qualities (often accentuating the effects of the passage ...
,
Expressionism
Expressionism is a modernist movement, initially in poetry and painting, originating in Northern Europe around the beginning of the 20th century. Its typical trait is to present the world solely from a subjective perspective, distorting it rad ...
, and
Cubism, as well as becoming an accomplished draughtsman. Later, he also took trips to France and Italy.
Style
Kjarval was a prolific painter, leaving thousands of drawings and paintings. The
paintings vary greatly in style and frequently mix different styles. Although not surreal, some of his works include absurd and symbolist elements, mixing elves and myths into landscape.
Many of his works include Icelandic landscapes and lava formations but many of his landscape paintings are partially "cubist" and abstract with his focus on the closest ground rather than the mountains in the background. Later in his life his art frequently also included abstract painting. In 1958, he was awarded the
Prince Eugen Medal by the King of Sweden.
Legacy
* In
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Iceland on the southern shore of Faxaflói, the Faxaflói Bay. With a latitude of 64°08′ N, the city is List of northernmost items, the worl ...
, one of three buildings belonging to the
Reykjavík Art Museum is called ''Kjarvalsstaðir'' and presents Kjarval's works alongside temporary exhibitions.
* He is depicted on the Icelandic 2000
króna banknote.
* The 1977 debut album ''
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...
'' by
Björk
Björk Guðmundsdóttir ( , ; born 21 November 1965), known mononymously as Björk, is an Icelandic singer, songwriter, composer, record producer, and actress. Noted for her distinct voice, three-octave vocal range, and eccentric public per ...
includes an instrumental flute tribute to Kjarval, written and performed by Björk
See also
*
List of Icelandic visual artists
References
External links
Kjarvalstaðir(archived on 19 October 2021)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kjarval, Johannes Sveinsson
1885 births
1972 deaths
Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval
Modern painters
Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval
Recipients of the Prince Eugen Medal
Johannes Sveinsson Kjarval