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 ...

painter Painting is a Visual arts, visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or "Support (art), support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with ...

. He is considered one of the most important artists of

. 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 Ásgrímur Jónsson (March 4, 1876 – April 5, 1958) was an Icelandic painter, and one of the first in the country to make art a professional living. He studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen between 1900 and 1903 and traveled widely after ...

. 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 The Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts () has provided education in the arts for more than 250 years, playing its part in the development of the art of Denmark. History The Royal Danish Academy of Portraiture, Sculpture, and Architecture in Cope ...

, 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 Cubism is an early-20th-century avant-garde art movement which began in Paris. It revolutionized painting and the visual arts, and sparked artistic innovations in music, ballet, literature, and architecture. Cubist subjects are analyzed, broke ...

, 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 Painting is a visual art, which is characterized by the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a solid surface (called "matrix" or " support"). The medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush. Other implements, ...

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 Reykjavik Art Museum ( ; founded in 1973) is the largest visual art institution in Iceland. It occupies three locations in Reykjavík Reykjavík is the Capital city, capital and largest city in Iceland. It is located in southwestern Icela ...

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

includes an instrumental flute tribute to Kjarval, written and performed by Björk

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

Early life

Style

Legacy

See also

References

External links