Spring Sunshine

In Astrup’s list from 1927, this painting is listed alongside another picture of the same subject, which the artist describes as a study. Here the paintings were titled “Jölster Legend” and “Jölster Legend 2”. The study has been identified as the painting The Soil Becomes Warmer (K38), which is now part of Lillehammer Art Museum’s permanent collection. In other words, the artist considered the unknown version to be the finished work. 

The painting Astrup describes as “Jölster Legend 2” is probably the picture “Spring Sunshine”, which was bought by the singer Hermine Marie Kopp (1862–1911) at Astrup’s exhibition in 1905. According to Astrup, she sold it on to “an Englishman”. In 1927, the artist suggested to Magnhild Ødvin Bukdahl (1899–1988) that the work might be in Australia:
 

“The original has disappeared – it was bought by a Miss Kopp, who sold it to a foreigner, who has apparently travelled to Australia (?).”

 

Its provenance remains unknown until 1934. That year the painting is auctioned at Wangs Kunst- og antikvitetshandel in Oslo under the title “Landscape” (catalogue number 52). 50 of the around 200 pictures on sale belonged to the collection left by the antique dealer O. J. Schjerven (1873–1934), but it is unknown whether the painting by Astrup came from that collection. Its provenance after 1934 is unknown.