Astrup, Nikolai

Nikolai Astrup (30 August 1880 – 21 January 1928) was a Norwegian painter. Astrup was born in Bremanger in Nordfjord, but grew up in Ålhus in Jølster where his father worked as a priest. He was the great-grandson of Nils Astrup, a one-term member of parliament. His father Christian wanted Nikolai, the oldest son, to become a priest as well, but Nikolai was more interested in drawing and painting. He studied these subjects in Oslo where he was a student at Backer popular school of painting. He later lived for a while, in Paris and in Germany before returning to Jølster. He got married there and had 8 children. The economy was very tight and he struggled with poor health. Astrup died of pneumonia in 1928 at the age of 47 in Jølster''''s neighbouring municipality Førde. Astrup preferred clear, strong colors and usually made landscape art depicting his surroundings in Jølster. His painting were intimate interaction with nature and the built environment a distinctive rich color. Astrup is regarded as a neo-romantic painter, but he also worked with woodcuts. Nikolai Astrup is looked upon as one of the greatest Norwegian artists from the early 1900s, and several of his paintings have been sold at auctions for approximately $500,000 USD. Oil paintings •Tun i Jølster, (1902) •Stabbur i Jølster, (before 1905) •Kvennagong, (before 1905) •Prestegården, (before 1907) •Grå vårkveld, (1907) •Juninatt og gammelt vestlandstun, (before 1908) •Kollen, (1908) •Vårnatt i hagen, (1909) •Jonsokbål, (1912–26) •Vårstemning, (before 1914) •Priseld, (1915) •Revebjelle, (ca. 1920) •Interiør med vugge, (ca. 1920)