Tuesday, October 04, 2016

Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914)

 Theodor Kittelsen - Skogstroll, 1890Skogstroll, 1890

Theodor Kittelsen - "The Ash Lad beheads the Troll." 1900 The Ash Lad beheads the Troll, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - The Water Troll Who Eats Only Young Girls, 1881The Water Troll Who Eats Only Young Girls, 1881

Theodor Kittelsen - Troldskab, 1892 Troldskab, 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - Forest Troll, 1906Forest Troll, 1906

Theodor Kittelsen - The Ash Lad and the Wolf, 1900The Ash Lad and the Wolf, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892 Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - Trolløye, 1891 Trolløye, 1891

Theodor Kittelsen - The Monster of the Lake, 1904The Monster of the Lake, 1904

Theodor Kittelsen - PostkortPostkort

Theodor Kittelsen -Illustration for "Troldskab " Christiania, 1892Illustration for "Troldskab " Christiania, 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1900 The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1910The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1910

Theodor Kittelsen - Söormen in Aalesund, 1870Söormen in Aalesund, 1870

Theodor Kittelsen - The Svælg waterfall, 1907The Svælg waterfall, 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - The Waterfall, 1907The Waterfall, 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - The Dam at Lake Klouman, 1908 The Dam at Lake Klouman, 1908

Theodor Kittelsen - Groundwork, 1907Groundwork, 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - VintereventyrVintereventyr

Theodor Kittelsen - The Ash Lad and the Dragon, 1900The Ash Lad and the Dragon, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Grain Restorer in Moonlight, 1900Grain Restorer in Moonlight, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - TussebryllupTussebryllup

Theodor Kittelsen - Askeladdens Adventure, 1900Askeladdens Adventure, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold, 1900Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Princess Collecting CottonPrincess Collecting Cotton

Theodor Kittelsen - Gold Horn, 1910Gold Horn, 1910

Theodor Kittelsen - SmørbokkSmørbokk

Theodor Kittelsen - The Forest Troll , 1892The Forest Troll , 1892

VasstrollSea Monster, 1881

Theodor Kittelsen - "Now I put Button hole in your pants for Christmas "Illustrasjon to " Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891"Now I put Button hole in your pants for Christmas "Illustrasjon to " Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891

Theodor Kittelsen - She covers the whole country, 1904She covers the whole country, 1904

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (She rushes around the country.), 1900Illustration of the Black Death (She rushes around the country.), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death, "Mother there comes a bitch." 1900Illustration of the Black Death, "Mother there comes a bitch." 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta drar), 1900Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta drar), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (Autumn Evening), 1900Illustration of the Black Death (Autumn Evening), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (She wanders around the country.), 1900 Illustration of the Black Death (She wanders around the country.), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta Comes), 1900Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta Comes), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death (Plague on the stairs), 1900Illustration of the Black Death (Plague on the stairs), 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Illustration of the Black Death, Mouse Town, 1900TIllustration of the Black Death, Mouse Town, 1900

Theodor Kittelsen - Nokken ScreamsNokken Screams

Theodor Kittelsen - At Night They Carried the Dead Away, 1901At Night They Carried the Dead Away, 1901

Theodor Kittelsen - On the way to the feast in Troll Castle, 1892 On the way to the feast in Troll Castle, 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - "Soul settle for , a , drink and be merry." 1876-87"Soul settle for , a , drink and be merry." 1876-87

Theodor Kittelsen - Guri med suppetrynetGuri With Soup Snout

Theodor Kittelsen - llustration for " World pays no different " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887llustration for " World pays no different " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Theodor Kittelsen - A Jutulhogget match, Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892A Jutulhogget match, Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - " Uff ! " shouted Farmer VærskjeggTil ' Farmer Veirskjæg " , P. Chr. Asbjornsen og J. Moe, Eventyrbog 's born . Norske Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887" Uff ! " shouted Farmer VærskjeggTil ' Farmer Veirskjæg " , P. Chr. Asbjornsen og J. Moe, Eventyrbog 's born . Norske Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Theodor Kittelsen - Little Fred and the Giant BeggarLittle Fred and the Giant Beggar

Theodor Kittelsen - Troldkjærringer, 1902 Troldkjærringer, 1902

Theodor Kittelsen - Trollkjerring, 1907Trollkjerring, 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - " Is not Butterball at home today ? " troll saidTo " Smørbuk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1883Theodor Kittelsen - " Is not Butterball at home today ? " troll saidTo " Smørbuk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen, 1883

Theodor Kittelsen - " It will be a big , long haugkjerring with hodet forearm ... "Ubenyttet illustrasjon til " Smørbukk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , Eventyrbog 's born I Gyldendalske Boghandels publishers, Kjøbenhavn 1883Haugkjærringen Henter Smørbuk" It will be a big , long haugkjerring with hodet forearm ... "Ubenyttet illustrasjon til " Smørbukk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , Eventyrbog 's born I Gyldendalske Boghandels publishers, Kjøbenhavn, 1883

Theodor Kittelsen - The old Hag with Her Head under Her Arm ("Butterball") 1883The old Hag with Her Head under Her Arm ("Butterball") 1883

Theodor Kittelsen - "Hau, hau , it would troll be blind buck anymore! " roared the troll. Illustration for " Røderev and Ashlad " P.Chr . Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales , I. Collection . Christiania and Copenhagen in 1907 "Hau, hau , it would troll be blind buck anymore! " roared the troll. Illustration for " Røderev and Ashlad " P.Chr . Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales , I. Collection . Christiania and Copenhagen in 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - "Milgen, malgen Komlekion", 1891"Milgen, malgen Komlekion", 1891

Theodor Kittelsen - Preparatory work for " Bonde Veirskjegg " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887Preparatory work for " Bonde Veirskjegg " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Theodor Kittelsen - llustration for " Bonde Veirskjæg " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887llustration for " Bonde Veirskjæg " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Theodor Kittelsen - Trading Children, 1887Trading Children, 1887

Theodor Kittelsen - Troll og trollunger, mann som griper etter geværetTroll and troll cubs with man who reaches for gun

Theodor Kittelsen - " Stop , dad , it's not such abruptness , " said skipperIllustration for " The skipper and the devil " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales . I. Collection , Oslo and Copenhagen in 1907"Stop , dad , it's not such abruptness , " said skipperIllustration for " The skipper and the devil " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales . I. Collection , Oslo and Copenhagen in 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - Fra "Har Dyrene Sjæl", 1893Fra "Har Dyrene Sjæl", 1893

Theodor Kittelsen - Tussefolk, 1908Tussefolk, 1908

Theodor Kittelsen - The Ship "Albatros" in Storm. (The Mermaid Rock) 1892The Ship "Albatros" in Storm. (The Mermaid Rock) 1892

Theodor Kittelsen - " Shoot no ," cried his wife , " it's me "Illustration for " Somme Kjær Rings ere SLIG " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1883"Shoot no ," cried his wife," it's me "Illustration for " Somme Kjær Rings ere SLIG " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1883

Theodor Kittelsen - Battle of Kjøbenhavns Red, Illustration to "Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891Battle of Kjøbenhavns Red, Illustration to "Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891

Theodor Kittelsen - A Family Drama, 1880A Family Drama, 1880

Theodor Kittelsen - The Seven SistersVariant of illustration From Lofoten II , 1891The Seven SistersVariant of illustration From Lofoten II , 1891

"Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in Telemark county, Norway. His father died at an early age, leaving a wife and eight children in difficult circumstances. Theodor was only 11 years old when he was apprenticed to a watchmaker. When at the age of 17 his talent was discovered by Diderich Maria Aall, he became a pupil at Wilhelm von Hanno’s drawing school in Christiania (now Oslo). Because of generous financial support by Aall he later studied in Munich. However, in 1879 Diderich Aall could no longer manage to support him, so Kittelsen had to earn his money as a draftsman for German newspapers and magazines.

In 1882 Kittelsen was granted a state scholarship to study in Paris. In 1887 he returned to Norway for good. When back in Norway, he found nature to be a great inspiration. He spent the next two years in Lofoten where he lived with his sister and brother-in-law at Skomvær Lighthouse. Kittelsen also started to write texts to his drawings here.

Theodor Kittelsen and his family settled in a home and artist studio which he called Lauvlia near Prestfoss during 1899. Kittelsen spent his best artistic years here. During this period, Kittelsen was hired to illustrate Norwegian Folktales (Norwegian: Norske Folkeeventyr) by the Norwegian folklore collector Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. In 1908 he was made Knight of the The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. However, he was forced to sell and leave Lauvlia in 1910 as his health began to fail. He was granted an artist’s stipend in 1911 but died a broken man in 1914." - quote source

More of Kittelsen's artworks were previously shared here.

Image sources include Telemarksgalleriet and Lysbuen, Digital Museum and Wikimedia Commons.

1 comment:

Rory Something said...

i love your blog, thank you for sharing such amazing art :)