Some of the most outstanding vistas can be found in Norway, a mountainous Scandinavian country containing massive glaciers, coastal fjords, and inland mountains. Thankfully for those of us who have not visited, we can still appreciate its geographical diversity through the eyes of Johan Christian Dahl, a Norwegian Romanticist Painter best known for his unique landscape paintings.
Dahl is a notable figure in Norway, as he is one of the few artists from the country to be recognized in greater Europe for his work. Dahl’s paintings have made appearances in the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the National Gallery, owing to his unique realist approach to landscape paintings. His appreciation for his native country’s landscapes can be directly attributed to the influence of the Romanticism movement in Norway during his lifetime (1788-1857).
Although the Romanticism movement touched broadly on concepts such as emotion over reason, heroism, and individuality, it also rejected industrialization and supported the preservation of the natural world. The movement was born in Britain but eventually made its way to Norway after the country aspired to redefine its national and cultural identity as a result of aggressive urbanization. In response, painters such as Dahl sought to remind their fellow Norwegians about the importance of preserving their country’s natural beauty.
My favorite landscape painting by Dahl is called View of Nærøy Valley, a landscape painting of stunning proportions which depicts a populated valley surrounded by magnificent mountain ranges. A river snakes through the valley; wooden cottages pepper the plains. The river is incredibly lifelike, taking on a greenish tinge as it reflects the color of the surrounding area. Dahl makes a fantastic choice painting the perspective of the valley at eye level; this contributes to the colossal nature of the mountains. They lurk over the town, casting a shadow on the areas surrounding the river. I enjoy his use of foreground elements to contribute to the realism of the landscape; travelers ride past the river on horseback and a sliver of mountain pokes out into the right side of the painting. Dahl also bathes the village in a setting sun, illuminating the village and its foliage with hints of bright green and yellow. These factors create an appealing composition to marvel at endlessly.
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