Lars Jorde

Key facts

Lived

1865–1939, Norwegian

Works held in

2 museums^[1]

• 17. May 1921

  Lillehammer Art Museum

  Lillehammer, Norway

  13 works

  

  Museum detailsMap
• At the Window

  National Museum of Art, Architecture and Design

  Oslo, Norway

  10 works

  

  Museum detailsMap

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• What is Lars Jorde known for?+

  Lars Jorde is known for his landscapes and decorative commissions. His public commissions included decorative work at Vingrom Chapel in Lillehammer, the student hall at the Norwegian College of Agriculture, and Granheim Sanatorium in Follebu.
• What is Lars Jorde's most famous work?+

  Lars Jorde is best known for his painting *Juleaften* (Christmas Eve), completed in 1914. The artwork depicts a family of farmers gathered around a table on Christmas Eve. It is celebrated for its realistic portrayal of rural life and its depiction of Norwegian traditions. Jorde was a Norwegian painter known for his naturalistic and realist style. He aimed to portray the lives of ordinary people, particularly those in rural communities. His paintings often captured scenes from everyday life, with an emphasis on depicting the environment and social conditions of his subjects. Jorde's work is considered an important contribution to Norwegian art history, as he helped to establish a distinct national identity in painting. He studied at the Royal School of Art and Design in Christiania (now Oslo), and later in Paris. His training is apparent in his technical skill and attention to detail.
• What should I know about Lars Jorde's prints?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter, known for his naturalistic and realist depictions of rural life. He was born in Oslo, and he studied art in Copenhagen, Berlin, and Paris during the 1880s and 1890s. Jorde's prints often share similar themes and subjects with his paintings. These include scenes of farmers, landscapes, and genre scenes of everyday life in Norway. His style is characterised by a concern for naturalism, with close observation and accurate representation of light and atmosphere. He was one of the first artists to settle in Vågå; this made the area a popular destination for other painters. Jorde is considered a significant figure in Norwegian art history, bridging the gap between earlier naturalism and later modernist movements.
• What style or movement did Lars Jorde belong to?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter associated with several artistic styles during his career. He began within a naturalistic mode, influenced by the French painter Jules Bastien-Lepage. This is evident in Jorde's early works, which often depicted rural life and ordinary people with a focus on realism. Later, Jorde became associated with Neo-Romanticism, a movement that emerged in the late 19th century as a reaction against naturalism's strict objectivity. Neo-Romantic artists sought to express subjective emotions and spiritual experiences through their art. Jorde's paintings from this period often feature symbolic imagery and a heightened sense of atmosphere. An example is *September Night* (1899). Additionally, Jorde is considered a figure within Norwegian Symbolism. Symbolist artists aimed to convey ideas and emotions through symbolic forms, often drawing inspiration from mythology, literature, and the inner world of the psyche. Jorde's use of evocative colours and simplified forms aligns with Symbolist principles. He also spent time in Paris, a centre for Symbolist art.
• What techniques or materials did Lars Jorde use?+

  Lars Jorde's practice involved specific materials and techniques. For canvas preparation, artists often start with cotton duck, applying two coats of white gesso. Some artists use Masonite, prepared with three or four gesso coats. Priming and stretching canvases is seen as good preparation before painting, ensuring desired quality and focus. When applying colour, artists mix oil paint with a medium of wax and turpentine, keeping the mixture warm to ensure it remains liquid. The mixture is applied with a brush, then worked with a spatula or painting knife to achieve the desired consistency. The consistency of the surfaces is kept constant. The amount of wax added affects the paint's texture and workability. The use of artist-quality paints is important for colour saturation, permanence, and stability. Hog hair brushes, particularly filberts and flats, are favoured for their springy resistance and ability to apply oil paint broadly.
• When did Lars Jorde live and work?+

  Edvard Munch was born on 12 December 1863 in Løten, Norway. His family relocated to Oslo (then Christiania) the following year. He initially pursued engineering in 1879 before dedicating himself to painting, beginning his art studies in 1880. Munch's career gained momentum throughout the late 19th and early 20th centuries. He exhibited in Oslo in 1883, studied in Paris in 1885, and held his first solo exhibition in 1889. His work often stirred controversy, such as his Berlin exhibition in 1892 which closed early due to protests. Despite challenges, Munch continued to develop his style and explore major themes in his art. In 1908, he experienced a nervous breakdown and received treatment in Copenhagen. Later, from 1909 to 1914, he worked on murals for the Oslo University Assembly Hall. Munch spent his later years at Ekely, outside Oslo. He died on 23 January 1944 in Skøyen, Norway, leaving his collected works to the city of Oslo.
• Where can I see Lars Jorde's work?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter known for his naturalistic and realist scenes of rural life. His paintings are held in numerous public collections, mostly in Norway. The National Museum in Oslo holds a significant collection of Jorde's work. This includes paintings such as "October Night in Vågå" (1892), a piece that established his reputation. Other notable works in the National Museum include "From Sandsøen" (1895) and "The Old Woman and the Boy" (1906). The Bergen Art Museum (KODE) also possesses several paintings by Jorde. These provide further insight into his artistic development and preferred subjects. Smaller regional museums throughout Norway, such as the Lillehammer Art Museum^[1], may also have examples of his work on display or in storage. Outside of Norway, Jorde's paintings are less common in public collections. However, some pieces may occasionally appear in international exhibitions of Scandinavian art, or be available through art dealers specialising in Nordic painting. Checking museum websites and exhibition catalogues is advisable for those seeking to view his work outside Norway.
• Who did Lars Jorde influence?+

  It is difficult to say exactly who Lars Jorde influenced. Norway was dominated by the art of the 1930s well into the 1950s. During this period, Norway remained in an independent national situation, uninfluenced by international art. In recent years, some younger Norwegian artists have freed themselves from the domination of older generations and tyrannical corporatistic artists' unions. Arvid Pettersen pursues in his painting the Norwegian fascination with the heritage of Munch and Krohg and the painters of the 1930s. He attacks what he calls 'the Norwegian variation of French late Impressionism' with an emotional engagement and an intellectual frenzy that contains a lot of irony. His version of 'the return to painting' of the last years is proceeding on a tangential course. He is sailing in hard wind.
• Who influenced Lars Jorde?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter known for his naturalistic and realist works. His artistic development involved several influences, particularly during his early training. Jorde studied at the Royal School of Art and Design in Christiania (now Oslo). Later, he was a student of Christian Krohg, a leading figure in Norwegian realism. Krohg's emphasis on social realism and naturalism had a marked effect on Jorde's early style. In the 1890s, Jorde spent time in Paris, where he encountered Impressionism and Post-Impressionism. While he did not fully adopt these styles, they did affect his use of colour and light. He also studied with Puvis de Chavannes, a French Symbolist painter known for his mural work. Chavannes' influence can be seen in Jorde's later focus on simplified forms and decorative elements. Jorde's exposure to various artistic movements helped him create his own synthesis of naturalism, realism, and elements of Symbolism.
• Who was Lars Jorde?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter and illustrator. Born in Vang, Hedmark, he trained at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry, and also studied with several artists including Gerhard Munthe, Eilif Peterssen, and Kristian Zahrtmann.
• Why are Lars Jorde's works important today?+

  Lars Jorde (1865-1939) was a Norwegian painter known for his association with the transition from naturalism to neo-romanticism in Norwegian art. He is remembered today for his contributions to Norwegian cultural identity and his role in capturing the essence of rural life. Jorde's early work displays the influence of French naturalism, with an emphasis on realistic depictions of everyday life. However, he later moved toward a more national romantic style. This shift involved a focus on Norwegian history, folklore, and the natural world. His paintings often feature scenes from rural Norway, with careful attention to detail and atmosphere. These works evoke a sense of nostalgia and connection to the land. His art provides insight into the cultural and social values of his time; this makes him a significant figure in the history of Norwegian art.
• When was Lars Jorde born?+

  Lars Jorde was born in 1865 in Norway. Lars Jorde died in 1939, aged 74.