Karl Nordström

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Karl Nordström
Nordström c.1890
Born(1855-07-11)July 11, 1855
DiedAugust 16, 1923(1923-08-16) (aged 68)
Resting placeNorra begravningsplatsen, Stockholm, Sweden
OccupationLandscape painter

Karl Fredrik Nordström (11 July 1855 – 16 August 1923)[1] was a Swedish painter who specialized in landscapes. From 1896 to 1920, he was chairman of the Association of Artists (Konstnärsförbundet).[2][3]

Biography

His father was a police commissioner. He grew up in Stenkyrka Parish on the island of Tjörn until he was twenty, when he went to Stockholm to study at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, where his primary instructor was Edvard Perséus (1841–1890). From 1880 to 1882, he studied on his own in France, visited museums in Antwerp and Brussels and became influenced by Impressionism after seeing their Seventh Exhibition at Paris during 1882. He was able to get two paintings displayed at the Salon. Then, after a stay in Normandy, he returned home and remained there until 1886. In 1885, he was one of a group of 85 Swedish artists who became known as the opponents (Opponenterna). They were signatories of a written request to the Royal Academy of Arts for a modernization and reform of the art education, exhibition activities and artist support.[4]

In 1885, he married the engraver, Tekla Lindeström (1856–1937) whom he had met at the Swedish artists' colony in Grez-sur-Loing in north-central France. Their daughter, Elsa Nordström (1889–1952) also became a painter.[5][6]

In 1889, he exhibited at the Exposition Universelle and one of his paintings was purchased by Prince Eugen (1865–1947), a notable patron of the arts. Later, they went back to Tjörn, then lived in Skansen until 1892. After that, they once more returned to Tjörn and spent the summers at the resort town of Apelviken, south of Varberg. There, together with Nils Kreuger (1858–1930) and Richard Bergh (1858–1919), they developed an art style what came to be known as the Varberg School [sv] (Varbergsskolan).[7]

He was also one of the founders of the

Gauguin, whose works he had seen in Paris, as well as by the Japanese art he saw there.[2]

In 1913, he began to have health problems, beginning with gallbladder surgery. In 1914, he started a diary. The following years were not happy. In quick succession he lost his mother (aged almost one hundred) and his best friend, Bergh. In 1920, after the Konstnärsförbundet was dissolved, he and his wife paid a nostalgic visit to France. He died at Drottningholm during 1923 and was buried at the Norra begravningsplatsen.[9]

His works may be seen at the

Göteborgs konstmuseum.[12]

The street Karl Nordströms väg in Södra Ängby is named after him, as is the Karl Nordströms väg in Varberg.[2]

Selected paintings

  • Kyrkesund, Tjörn
    Kyrkesund, Tjörn
  • Redwoods
    Redwoods
  • Winter Night
    Winter Night
  • Oatfield at Grez-sur-Loing
    Oatfield at Grez-sur-Loing
  • Storm Clouds
    Storm Clouds

References

  1. ^ a b c Barbro Schaffer. "Karl F Nordström". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  2. ^ "Konstnärsförbundet". Nordisk familjebok. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  3. ^ Beth Gersh-Nesic. "1882: The Seventh Impressionist Exhibition". ThoughtCo. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  4. ^ Lena Johannesson. "Tekla W Nordström". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  5. ^ "Elsa Nordström Sverige, (1889-1952)". Moderna Museet. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  6. ^ "Prins Eugen". Store norske leksikon. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  7. ^ Gunnar Carlquist, Svensk uppslagsbok, Vol.20, Malmö, pgs. 101-102
  8. ^ Nationalmuseum
  9. ^ Prins Eugens Waldemarsudde
  10. ^ Göteborgs konstmuseum

Further reading

  • Karl Nordström. In: Hans Vollmer (Ed.): Allgemeines Lexikon der Bildenden Künstler von der Antike bis zur Gegenwart, Vol.25: Moehring–Olivié. E. A. Seemann, Leipzig 1931, pg.517

External links