Technical description
The painting is signed “N. ASTRUP” in brown at the bottom left, but this is a secondary and posthumous signature. It is reasonable to think that the signing was done in connection with the sale to increase the value, as Engel Astrup was left with large debts after her husband’s death in 1928. Several of the works that are listed as “unsigned” in the exhibition catalogue from 1928 have a similar signature in red or brown paint, although technical analyses that might reveal whether the same pigments have been used have not been made.
The motif was originally smaller than today’s format. A piece of canvas has been joined on the right, and covers nearly the entire tree that grows up by the stones in the foreground. There is a photograph of the painting before the expansion in the photo collection left by Per Kramer. Astrup had presumably discussed the composition with his friend, before he chose to enlarge the format. This section appears unfinished.
Provenance
1923-1928:
Artist
Nikolai Astrup
(1880-1928)
1928-1928-:
By descent, to
Engel Astrup
(1892-1966)
-1928-1940-:
N. N.
-1940-1952:
Unknown acquisition method
William Nygaard d.e.
(1865-1952)
1952-1987-:
By descent, to
Private owner
-1994-2005:
Purchased by
Private owner
Exhibition history
Solo exhibition
1928-11-11 - 1928-12-9
Nikolai Astrup. Mindeutstilling
Kristiania (Oslo)
Catalogue number 107
See exhibition
1994-9-17 - 1994-11-13
Nikolai Astrup. Tradisjon og overskridelse
Oslo
Catalogue number 39
See exhibition
1995-3-18 - 1995-5-7
Nikolai Astrup. Tradisjon og overskridelse
Bergen
Catalogue number 39
See exhibition
1995-5-15 - 1995-9-15
Nikolai Astrup. Tradisjon og overskridelse
Jølster
Catalogue number 39
See exhibition
2005-1-15 - 2005-2-27
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Tønsberg
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2005-3-11 - 2005-5-1
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Drammen
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2005-5-24 - 2005-8-14
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Bergen
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2005-8-28 - 2005-10-23
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Stavanger
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2005-11-6 - 2006-1-1
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Trondheim
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2006-2-11 - 2006-3-26
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Kristiansand
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2006-5-20 - 2006-8-13
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Jølster
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2006-8-26 - 2006-10-1
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Notodden
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2006-10-14 - 2006-12-30
Nikolai Astrup. Tilhørighet og identitet
Lillehammer
Catalogue number [no]
See exhibition
2011-5-14 - 2011-9-11
Nikolai Astrup: Å møtast på ein klote, på ein stad
Rosendal
Catalogue number 16
See exhibition
Group exhibition
Bibliography
Bergens Kunstforening. Nikolai Astrup 1880–1928. Mindeutstilling. Bergen: Bergens kunstforening, 1928.
Loge, Øystein. Betrothed to Nature. Oslo: Det Norske Samlaget, 2010.
Stiftelsen Modums Blaafarveværk (ed.). Nikolai Astrup 1880–1928. Modum: [s.n.], 1987.
Loge, Øystein. Nikolai Astrup: tradisjon og overskridelse. [Høvikodden]: Henie-Onstad kunstsenter, 1994.
