This large-format, lavishly illustrated book offers a comprehensive survey of the fin-desiècle and modernist painting of Scandinavia. This book features an enormous variety of artists and works that explore the impact of Nordic geography, history, social mores, and national identities on the region’s painters. Focusing on the "core" countries—Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Finland, and Iceland—as well as the Faroe Islands, Greenland, and the Danish-German border region, the authors present a thematically organized overview of Nordic art between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Drawing from the most recent scholarship, the book considers the prevalent themes and subjects, such as landscapes, genre scenes, portraits, interiors, modern city life, and abstraction, and analyzes various works by artists such as Edvard Munch, Vilhelm Hammershøi, Helene Schjerfbeck, Jóhannes S. Kjarval, and Sigrid Hjertén. It looks at the rise of modernism in Nordic art and discusses the artistic interaction between North and Central Europe. A final chapter is devoted to the significance of Nordic painting today. Comprehensive and authoritative, this beautifully illustrated book is certain to become the standard volume on Nordic art.
"Beautifully illustrated with 225 colour images, this large format book is a welcome addition to anyone with an interest in European 19th and 20th century art, and will no doubt open the doorway for much more vigorous scholarship on the topic, as well as the establishing the attention these artists deserve."
-Candid Magazine
"The brief chapters progress from one appealing topic to the next, always bringing together works of art that provide stunning and illuminating comparisons and keep the reader totally engrossed and ready for more."
-CHOICE
