Theodor Kittelsen

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Theodor Kittelsen
2
Introduction

• Theodor Severin Kittelsen (1857-1914) was a
  Norwegian artist and illustrator. He is now one
  of the most respected and popular artists in
  Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature
  paintings, especially his illustrations of fairy
  tales, legends and Norse myths that often
  depicted trolls. He is one of the finest
  interpreters of nature. From realistic
  descriptions of nature to pure fantasy was only a
  step with Kittelsen and the forest scene around
  him provided rich inspirations.

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Early Life

• Kittelsen was born in the coastal town Kragero in
  Southern Norway. When he was 11, his father died,
  leaving his family in straightened circumstances.
  Kittelson was compelled to eke out a living as an
  errand-boy, an apprentice house painter in
  Christania (now Oslo) and an apprentice
  watchmaker in Arendel. It was then that his
  talent was discovered and he was promised free
  lessons by the architect Wilhelm von Hanno at the
  School of Arts in Christania. After two years he
  was granted financial support to continue his
  studies in Munich. In 1879, he was informed that
  he could no longer be supported financially. From
  now on he had to pay his way by drawing for
  German newspapers and magazines and by painting
  canvases that could be sold back in Norway by the
  Art Society.

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Influences

• In 1887, Kittelson returned to Norway for good.
  He longed for his native countryside. It was here
  that he found his greatest inspiration nature.
  Kittelsen sought the mysterious, romantic and
  magnificent aspects of nature that only Nordland
  could provide. His encounter with the scenery of
  north Norway is represented by the collection
  Troll Magic. His drawing of the sea troll was
  one of the first to have been inspired by the
  scenery of Nordland. Everything in nature
  stones, tufts of grass, moss and pine branches,
  tree trunks, stumps and roots all acquired in his
  imagination human or troll-like features. He was
  fascinated by and placed emphasis on horror and
  awe as well as juxtaposing nature as untameable
  yet picturesque.

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Svartedauen The Black Death

• In 1896 Kittelsen completed the illustrative
  work, The Black Death, his highest peak of
  achievement as a black and white artist. With
  vision and empathy he depicted this tragic
  chapter in our history. When he returned from
  Lofoten in 1889 he had the idea of utilizing
  subjects from Norwegian history most notably
  Nordic mythology and sagas. But then he happened
  upon the woman who was to become Pesta. Pesta
  provides the natural germ to the Black Death,
  which resulted in him creating his own text,
  often poems or a little tale such as the one
  about Wee Per and little Mari, who lost their
  mother and father and whom the trolls take pity
  and care for. The absolute highlight for me is
  the magnificent Pesta on the stairs, where the
  light effect and the strange, dizzy perspective
  greatly intensify the sense of horror.

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Svartedauen
Fattigmannen (1894-95) The Pauper Even the crows
seem to fear what lies at the end of the
road.
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Svartedauen
Pesta i trappen (1896) The Plague on the
Stairs. One of my favourites!
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Svartedauen
Pesta Kommer (1894-95) Plagues Coming. The
Raven as an omen of death.
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Svartedauen
Mustad (1896)
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Last Years

• Kittelsen was a sick and broken man when, in
  1910, he was forced to leave Lauvlia. He settled
  in Huseby , just outside Oslo. In the company of
  friends he recovered his spirits somewhat and was
  still creative. As late as 1913, only a few
  months before he died, he painted his daughter
  Ingrid picking bog cotton. He died penniless
  January 21, 1914. His old friend Christian
  Skredsvig left a fitting tribute
• Kittelsen left a void behind. He was unique-
  there will never be anyone to succeed him. Even
  the trolls have disappeared for always. At any
  rate, I have never seen them since.

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Illustrations








Soria Moria (1881) from Norske Folkeeventyr-
Norse Folktales
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Nokken 1887-92 The Water Spirit
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Ekko (1888) Echo Kittelsen was tremendously
productive as a landscape artist during the years
he lived in Lauvlia.
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Alfen det forsvant The Fairy that Disappeared
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Kornstaur I maneskinn (1900) Stooks of Corn in
Moonlight. The best example of the vague line
that separates realism from fantasy.
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Hakkespett (1912) The Woodpecker
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Trollet som grunner pa hvor gammelt det er
(1911) Troll Wonders How Old he is.
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Skogtroll (1906) Forest Troll
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Det rustler og tusler rasler of tasler (1900)
Creepy, Crawly, Rustling, Bustling.
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Op under fjeldet toner en lur (1900) Up in the
hills the clarion call rings out
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Nokken som hvit hest (1909) The Nix as a brook
horse
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Draugen The Sea Ghost
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Heksen The Witch
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Sjoormen The Sea Serpent
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Vastroldet som levede af bare jomfrukjod The
Reed Troll who ate only maiden meat.
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Guldhornet The Golden Horn
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Kvitebjorn- Kong Valemon (1912) The Polar Bear
King
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De hadde i nattens stillhet lurt ham vekk They
had led him away in the stillness of the night.