Christian Krohg-Selvportrett i kurvstol 1917

Christian Krohg (13 August 1852 – 16 October 1925) was a Norwegian

naturalist Natural history is a domain of inquiry involving organisms, including animals, fungi, and plants, in their natural environment, leaning more towards observational than experimental methods of study. A person who studies natural history is cal ...

painter, illustrator, author and journalist. Krohg was inspired by the

realism art movement Realism was an artistic movement that emerged in France in the 1840s. Realists rejected Romanticism, which had dominated French literature and art since the early 19th century. The artist Gustave Courbet, the original proponent of Realism, soug ...

and often chose motifs from everyday life. He was the director and served as the first professor at the Norwegian Academy of Arts from 1909 to 1925.

Biography

Christian Krohg was born at

Vestre Aker Vestre Aker (Western Aker) is a List of boroughs of Oslo, borough of the city of Oslo, Norway. It has a population of 50,157 as of 2020. The previous Aker Municipality was merged into the city of Oslo in 1948. The borough of Vestre Aker was org ...

(now Oslo), Norway. He was one of five children born to Georg Anton Krohg (1817–1873) and Sophie Amalia Holst (1822–1861). He was a grandson of

Christian Krohg Christian Krohg (13 August 1852 – 16 October 1925) was a Norwegian naturalist painter, illustrator, author and journalist. Krohg was inspired by the realism art movement and often chose motifs from everyday life. He was the director and s ...

(1777–1828) who had served as a government minister. His father was a civil servant, journalist and author. His mother died when he was only 8 years old, and his father's sister took over responsibility for the household and the upbringing of the children. From 1861, he attended

Hartvig Nissen School The Hartvig Nissen School (), informally referred to as Nissen, is a former single-sex education, girls' Gymnasium (school), gymnasium in Oslo, Norway, now co-educational. It is located in the neighborhood Uranienborg, Norway, Uranienborg in the af ...

. His father had asked him to pursue a legal career. Krohg studied law at the

University of Oslo The University of Oslo (; ) is a public university, public research university located in Oslo, Norway. It is the List of oldest universities in continuous operation#Europe, oldest university in Norway. Originally named the Royal Frederick Univ ...

(then Christiania) graduating

cand.jur. Candidate ( or ) is the name of various academic degrees, which are today mainly awarded in Scandinavia. The degree title was phased out in much of Europe through the 1999 Bologna Process, which has re-formatted academic degrees in Europe. The de ...

in 1873, the same year in which his father died. During 1869–70, he had also studied at the art school of

Johan Fredrik Eckersberg Johan Fredrik Eckersberg (16 June 1822 – 13 July 1870) was a Norwegian painter most noted for his landscapes. Eckersberg was a prominent figure in the transition from Romanticism to Realism (arts), Realism in 19th-century Norwegian art, both ...

at Lille Grensen in Christiania. He was additionally educated in Germany, first at the Baden School of Art in

Karlsruhe Karlsruhe ( ; ; ; South Franconian German, South Franconian: ''Kallsruh'') is the List of cities in Baden-Württemberg by population, third-largest city of the States of Germany, German state of Baden-Württemberg, after its capital Stuttgart a ...

under

Hans Gude Hans Fredrik Gude (March 13, 1825August 17, 1903) was a Norwegian romanticist painter and is considered along with Johan Christian Dahl to be one of Norway's foremost landscape painters. He has been called a mainstay of Norwegian National Ro ...

in 1874. He also trained under

Karl Gussow Karl Gussow (25 February 1843, Havelberg – 27 March 1907, Munich) was a German painter and university professor. Life and work His early inclination to art was encouraged by his family so, as soon as he completed his secondary schooling, he wa ...

from 1875. He followed with study at the Königliche Akademie in

Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...

from 1875 to 1878. He was awarded the Schäffer's legacy (1876–77) and received a government travel allowance during 1877–78 and in 1881. In 1879, on the encouragement of artist

Frits Thaulow Frits Thaulow (20 October 1847 – 5 November 1906) was a Norwegian Impressionist painter, best known for his naturalistic depictions of landscape. Biography Johan Frederik Thaulow was born in Christiania, the son of a wealthy chemist, Harald ...

, he visited the Skagen artists colony. He returned to

Skagen Skagen () is the northernmost town in Denmark, on the east coast of the Skagen Odde peninsula in the far north of Jutland, part of Frederikshavn Municipality in North Denmark Region, Nordjylland, north of Frederikshavn and northeast of Aalbo ...

in 1882–1884 and 1888. Through his periodic future residence at Skagen, he would influence other artists including

Anna Anna may refer to: People Surname and given name * Anna (name) Mononym * Anna the Prophetess, in the Gospel of Luke * Anna of East Anglia, King (died c.654) * Anna (wife of Artabasdos) (fl. 715–773) * Anna (daughter of Boris I) (9th–10th c ...

and

Michael Ancher Michael Peter Ancher (9 June 1849 – 19 September 1927) was a Danish Realism (art movement), realist artist, widely known for his paintings of fishermen, the Skagerak and the North Sea, and other scenes from the Danish fishing community in Skag ...

and provided early support to

Edvard Munch Edvard Munch ( ; ; 12 December 1863 – 23 January 1944) was a Norwegian painter. His 1893 work ''The Scream'' has become one of Western art's most acclaimed images. His childhood was overshadowed by illness, bereavement and the dread of inher ...

. Krohg worked in

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, largest city of France. With an estimated population of 2,048,472 residents in January 2025 in an area of more than , Paris is the List of ci ...

from 1881 to 1882. Inspired by the ideas of the realists he chose motifs primarily from everyday life – often its darker or socially inferior sides. Prostitution is the subject of his painting ''

Albertine i politilægens venteværelse ''Albertine in the Police Doctor's Waiting-Room'' (; completed 1887) is a naturalist painting by the Norwegian artist Christian Krohg, showing the scene in a medical waiting-room. ''Albertine in the Police Doctor's Waiting-Room'' is regarded as ...

'', and Krohg also wrote a novel about the depicted scene. The novel, '' Albertine'', caused a scandal when first published, and it was confiscated by the police. Krohg's style made him a leading figure in the transition from

romanticism Romanticism (also known as the Romantic movement or Romantic era) was an artistic and intellectual movement that originated in Europe towards the end of the 18th century. The purpose of the movement was to advocate for the importance of subjec ...

to naturalism. Krohg was the founding and editor-in-chief of the Kristiania Bohemian journal, ''

Impressionisten ''Impressionisten'' ('The Impressionist') was a Norwegian periodical, published by people belonging to the Bohemianist group in Kristiania. ''Impressionisten'' was first published in December 1886. The first editor-in-chief An editor-in-chief (E ...

'' from 1886 until 1890. He then became a journalist for the

Oslo Oslo ( or ; ) is the capital and most populous city of Norway. It constitutes both a county and a municipality. The municipality of Oslo had a population of in 2022, while the city's greater urban area had a population of 1,064,235 in 2022 ...

newspaper from 1890 to 1910. Christian Krohg was also associated with ''Politiken'' 1893–1894. He taught at

Académie Colarossi The Académie Colarossi (1870–1930) was an art school in Paris founded in 1870 by the Italian model and sculptor Filippo Colarossi. It was originally located on the Île de la Cité, and it moved in 1879 to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the ...

in Paris from 1902 until 1909. Later he became a professor-director at the Norwegian Academy of Arts (''Statens Kunstakademi'') from 1909 until 1925. There are notable collections of art by Christian Krohg in the

National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design The National Museum (, officially the National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design) is a museum in Oslo, Norway which holds the Norwegian state's public collection of art, architecture, and design objects. The collection totals over 400,000 w ...

in Oslo and at

Skagens Museum Skagens Museum is an art museum in Skagen, Denmark, that exhibits an extensive collection of works by members of the colony of Skagen Painters who lived and worked in the area in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Important artists include M ...

in Denmark.

Awards and honors

Christian Krohg received numerous national and international awards during his career. In 1889, he was made a Knight in the French

Legion of Honour The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and Civil society, civil. Currently consisting of five cl ...

and entered in the Belgian

Order of Leopold Order of Leopold may refer to: * Order of Leopold (Austria), founded in 1808 by emperor Francis I of Austria and discontinued in 1918 * Order of Leopold (Belgium), founded in 1832 by king Leopold I of Belgium * Order of Leopold II, founded in Congo ...

in 1894. He served as Norwegian Commissioner at the Exposition Internationale d'Anvers at

Antwerp Antwerp (; ; ) is a City status in Belgium, city and a Municipalities of Belgium, municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of Antwerp Province, and the third-largest city in Belgium by area at , after ...

in 1894 and held membership in the Societe Nouvelle de Peintres et de Sculpteurs from 1900. Krohg was made a Knight 1st Class in the

Order of St. Olav The Royal Norwegian Order of Saint Olav (; or ''Sanct Olafs Orden'', the old Norwegian name) is a Norwegian order of chivalry instituted by King Oscar I on 21 August 1847. It is named after King Olav II, known to posterity as St. Olav. Just be ...

in 1900 and received the Command Cross in 1910.

Personal life

He was married to artist Oda Lasson (1860–1935). In 1885, their daughter Nana (1885–1974) was born and in 1889 their son muralist Per Lasson Krohg (1889–1965). In 1888, Oda obtained a divorce from her first husband Jørgen Engelhardt; they were married in that same year. In 1897, his wife took their son Per and moved to Paris with dramatist

Gunnar Heiberg Gunnar Edvard Rode Heiberg (18 November 1857 – 22 February 1929) was a Norwegian poet, playwright, journalist and theatre critic. Personal life He was born in Christiania a son of judge Edvard Omsen Heiberg (1829–1884) and his wife Minna ( ...

. They were later reconciled. In 1914, Christian Krohg established residence near

Frogner Park Frogner Park () is a public park in the central West End borough of Frogner in Oslo, Norway. The park is historically part of Frogner Manor and is Oslo's largest park, open to the public at all times. It includes the manor house which is the sea ...

where he died in 1925. Oda Krohg died in 1935. Both were buried at

Vår Frelsers gravlund The Cemetery of Our Saviour () is a cemetery in Oslo, Norway, located north of Hammersborg in Gamle Aker district. It is located adjacent to the older Old Aker Cemetery and was created in 1808 as a result of the great famine and cholera epidemi ...

in Oslo. A bronze statue of Krohg by sculptors Per Hurum and Asbjørg Borgfelt was erected at the crossing of Lille Grensen-Karl Johans gate in Oslo in 1960.

Gallery

Portraits

File:Gerhard Munthe (1849).jpg, ''Portrait of the Painter

Gerhard Munthe Gerhard Peter Frantz Munthe (19 July 1849 in Elverum (town), Elverum, Hedmark – 15 January 1929 in Lysaker, Bærum Municipality, Bærum) was a Norwegian painter and illustrator. Background Munthe was born in Elverum (town), Elverum to physicia ...

'' File:Christian Krohg - Portrait of the Painter Oda Krohg, b. Lasson - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Oda Krohg'' (Portrait of Oda Krohg. 1888) File:Christian Krohg - self-portrait (1912).jpg, ''Selvportrett med staffeli'' (Self-portrait with easel. 1912)

Social realism

File:Christian Krohg - Silda Kommer - IMG 9340.jpg, ''Silda Kommer'' (''The herring are in'') File:Christian Krohg - Babord litt.jpg, ''Babord litt'' (''Port side'', 1879) File:Christian Krohg - Braiding her Hair - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Håret flettes'' (''The hair is being braided'', 1882) File:Christian Krohg-Sovende mor med barn 1883.jpg, ''Sovende mor med barn'' (''Sleeping mother with child'', 1883) File:Christian Krohg - Tired - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Trett'' ''(Tired'', 1885) File:Christian Krohg - Albertine to see the Police Surgeon - Google Art Project.jpg, ''

'' (''Albertine at the Police Doctor's Waiting Room'', 1885–87) File:Christian Krohg - Struggle for Survival - Google Art Project.jpg, ''Kampen for tilværelsen'' (''Struggle for existence'', c. 1888–89) Christian Krohg - Leiv Eirikson discovering America - Google Art Project.jpg, '' Leiv Eriksson oppdager Amerika'' (''Leiv Eirikson discovering America'', 1893) File:Krohg-17.mai.1893.jpg, '' 17 mai 1893'' (''May 17, 1893'')

References

Other sources

*Thue, Oscar (1997) ''Christian Krohg'' (Oaslo: Aschehoug) *Thue, Oscar (1971) ''Christian Krohgs portretter'' (Oslo: Gyldendal) * Bryne, Arvid (2009) ''Christian Krohg. Journalisten'' (Oslo: Unipub Forlag)

External links

Christian Krohg at the National Museum (Oslo)Christian Krohg at Skagens Museum

Digitized books by Christian Krohg
at

National Library of Norway The National Library of Norway () was established in 1989. Its principal task is "to preserve the past for the future". The library is located both in Oslo and in Mo i Rana. The building in Oslo was restored and reopened in 2005. Prior to the e ...

* *
MyNDIR (My Norse Digital Image Repository)
Illustrations by Christian Krohg from manuscripts and early print books. {{DEFAULTSORT:Krohg, Christian 1852 births 1925 deaths University of Oslo alumni Painters from Oslo Writers from Oslo Norwegian journalists Norwegian editors Skagen Painters Realist artists 19th-century journalists 19th-century Norwegian male writers 19th-century Norwegian painters 19th-century Norwegian writers 20th-century Norwegian writers 20th-century Norwegian painters Norwegian male painters 20th-century Norwegian male writers Recipients of the St. Olav's Medal Recipients of the Legion of Honour Burials at the Cemetery of Our Saviour 19th-century Norwegian male artists 20th-century Norwegian male artists