THAULOW, Fritz - b. 1847 Oslo, d. 1906 Volendam

Norwegian painter and engraver. Originally wanting to become a marine painter he studied at the art academy in Copenhagen (1870-73) as well as with the Danish marine specialist Carl Frederik Sørensen (1818-1879). He spent two winters at Karlsruhe (1873-74, 1874-5) as the pupil of Hans Gude (1825-1903) and then went to Paris, where he spent much of the period 1875-79. His marines and coastal pictures, some of which were accepted at the Paris Salon, were only moderately successful, but he acquired a fair knowledge of contemporary French Realist art and felt that Norwegian artists should learn from it. He admired in particular Jules Bastien-Lepage.

Thaulow made a significant and original contribution to Realism and formed an important link between Norwegian and French painting. His work refrained from becoming repetitive because he was constantly travelling and depicting new places.

Night

Thaulow received an academic artist education and later specialized in seascapes. One of the first painters in Norway to begin working en plein air, he created a gallery of images of the Scandinavian countryside that are subtle in mood, including masterly nocturnes such as the present canvas.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 5 minutes):

Edvard Grieg: Piano Concerto in A minor Op. 16 (1st movement)