Magical Paintings Of Norway At Dulwich Picture Gallery
What the Dulwich Picture Gallery does well is to bring lesser known artists to our attention. Last year we had Emily Carr and Ravilious — this year we kick off with Norwegian painter Nikolai Astrup.
At first glance he may look like a traditional landscape painter. But this show takes us on a journey through his portfolio, and the diversity is impressive. A verdant wide open landscape can be contrasted with a darker claustrophobic painting, where a solitary light from a window shines through the tangled branches of trees.
Often Astrup will leave the faces of his characters featureless, but then about turn and paint a photorealistic cabin. Astrup liked to experiment with the surreal too — one gnarled tree looks like it's morphing into a screaming man with flailing arms.
It's this constant re-invention by Astrup that had us hooked throughout, and there's a real treat in the last room. Astrup's painting of fire is captivating — whether it be a massive bonfire or the embers in a pot. The result is a sizzling end to a great exhibition.
Nikolai Astrup: Painting Norway is on at Dulwich Picture Gallery until 15 May. Tickets are £12.50 for adults, concessions available.
Last Updated 09 February 2016
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