Theodor Kittelson (1857 – 1914) was a Norwegian ceramicist and book illustrator. He is one of the most popular artists in Norway. Kittelsen became famous for his nature paintings and illustrations of fairy tales and legends, especially trolls.
Education
Between 1884 – 1887 he studied painting in Munich.
Biography
In the early 1900s, he was a designer for Porsgrunds Porselaensfabrik, Porsgrunn. In 1882 Kittelsen was granted a state scholarship to study in Paris. In 1887 he returned to Norway for good. When back in Norway, he found nature to be a great inspiration. He spent the next two years in Lofoten, living with his sister and brother-in-law at Skomvær Lighthouse. Kittelsen also started to write texts to his drawings there.
Theodor Kittelsen and his family settled in a home and artist studio he called Lauvlia near Prestfoss in 1899. Kittelsen spent his best artistic years here. During this period, Kittelsen was hired to illustrate Norwegian Folktales (Norwegian: Norske Folkeeventyr) by the Norwegian folklore collector Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. In 1908 he was made Knight of The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. However, he was forced to sell and leave Lauvlia in 1910 due to failing health. He was granted an artist’s stipend in 1911 but died in Jeløya in 1914. After his death, his widow Inga Kittelsen was granted an annual salary from the Storting.
Cultural References
Black and folk metal bands such as Burzum, Empyrium, Otyg and Satyricon have used some of his pictures as album art, notably illustrations taken from Kittelsen’s book Svartedauen (The Black Death). Musician Phil Elverum named the tenth song on his 2017 album A Crow Looked at Me after Kittelesen’s painting “Soria Moria” specifically illustrating his grief. Kittelsen’s 160th birthday was celebrated with a Google doodle on 27 April 2017, giving him some exposure outside Norway.
Kittelsen artworks
Artworks – Wikiart | Google Arts and Culture
Theodor Kittelsen in our partner stores
Sources
Byars, M., & Riley, T. (2004). The design encyclopedia. Laurence King Publishing. https://amzn.to/3ElmSlL
Wikipedia contributors. (2021, September 17). Theodor Kittelsen. In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 02:34, December 7, 2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Theodor_Kittelsen&oldid=1044935898
Recommended Reading Ceramic Design Books
The Ceramic Design Book: A Gallery of Contemporary Work. (2000). United States: Lark. https://amzn.to/3KwQLEG
Complete Pottery Techniques: Design, Form, Throw, Decorate and More, with Workshops from Professional Makers. (2019). United States: DK Publishing.
Coutts, H. (2001). The art of ceramics: European ceramic design 1500-1830. United Kingdom: Yale University Press.
Higgins, R., & Robinson, C. S. (2010). William De Morgan : arts and crafts potter. Shire
Lane, P. (1998). Ceramic Form: Design & Decoration. Kiribati: A. & C. Black.
Leigh Ford, K. (2021). Pottery for Beginners: Projects for Beautiful Ceramic Bowls, Mugs, Vases and More. United Kingdom: Page Street Publishing.
Morris, T. (2018). New Wave Clay: Ceramic Design, Art and Architecture. Netherlands: Frame Publishers.
Richerson, D. W. (2012). The Magic of Ceramics. Wiley.
Schwartzkopf, D. (2020). Creative Pottery: Innovative Techniques and Experimental Designs in Thrown and Handbuilt Ceramics. United States: Quarry Books.
Treggiden, K. (2021). Urban Potters: Makers in the City. Belgium: Thames & Hudson.
More Norwegian Designers
-
Gerhard Munthe (1855-1929) Norwegian textile, furniture, Interior Designer
Between 1877-82, he lived in Munich. As a pictorial artist, he brought about the break with historicism in Norway. Drawing on Norwegian folk art and poetry, he illustrated books and designed tapestries for firms including DNB (Det Norske Billedvaveri).Read More →
-
Peter Opsvik (b.1939), Norwegian furniture designer
Peter Opsvik is a Norwegian furniture designer. In the 1960s, studied ergonomics under Ulrich Burandt and in design schools in Bergen and Oslo. In the 1970s, in Britain and Volkwangschule filr Kunstgewerbe, Essen. 1965-70, he was a designer at the Tandberg Radio Factory.Read More →
-
Konrad Galaaen (1923 – 2004) Norwegian Ceramicist
Konrad Galaaen (1923 – 2004) was a Norwegian ceramist and designer. He was educated at the Statens Hndverks- og Kunstindustriskole in Oslo and won first prize in a competition. He worked as a designer at Porsgrunds Porselnsfabrik for 43 years and developed the design classic Spire, which has been relaunched and redesigned. Porsgrund owes its…
-
Jacob Prytz (1886 – 1962) Norwegian metalworker and designer
Jacob Prytz (1886 – 1962) was a metalworker and designer from Norway. He was born and raised in Oslo, where he also worked.Read More →
-
A Brief Overview of Carl Cristian Fjeringstad: Life and Legacy
Carl Christian Fjerdingstad was a Norwegian designer born in Kristiansand and active in Blaricum (Norway), the Netherlands, and Paris. Carl Christian Fjerdingstad worked as a designer for Orfèvrerie Christofle in Paris and a silversmith for Henry van de Velde. His work combined French designs with the hammered surfaces and round shapes of Danish silverware.Read More…
-
Theodor Kittelsen (1857 – 1914) Norwegian Ceramicist and Book Illustrator
In the early 1900s, he was a designer for Porsgrunds Porselaensfabrik, Porsgrunn. In 1882 Kittelsen was granted a state scholarship to study in Paris. In 1887 he returned to Norway for good. When back in Norway, he found nature to be a great inspiration. He spent the next two years in Lofoten, where he lived…
-
Marius Hammer (1847 – 1927) Norwegian silversmith
Hammer was head of one of Norway’s largest silversmithies. He was best known for his plique-a-jour enamelled spoons popular with tourists and exported in large quantities. He produced the ‘Norwegian brilliant enamel work’ spoons offered in the 1896 and 1898 Christmas catalogues of Liberty, London. Read More →
-
Jean Heiberg (1884 – 1976) – Bakelite Telephone
Norwegian painter Jean Heiberg (1884–1976), who later studied with Matisse in Paris, is credited with designing the first “modern” telephone—certainly the one that is most well-known to consumers.Read More →
-
Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic & glassware designer
Hermann Bongard Norwegian graphic designer and glassware designer. He studied lithography and commercial design. Read MoreRead More →
-
Kari Christensen (1938 – 1997) Norwegian Ceramicist
Christensen worked at Royal Copenhagen Porcelain factory; from 1966, worked in own workshop, Oslo; from c1966, taught, Statens Handverks -og Kunstindustriskale, Oslo, and was a professor there from c1986.Read More →
-
Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) Norwegian Designer
Benny Anette Motzfeldt (1909-1995) was a celebrated Norwegian graphic artist, glass designer, and sculptor, known for her glass work showcased globally. She held various positions as an art director and her contributions earned her prestigious awards.Read More →
-
Alf Sture (1915 – 2000) One of the Greats of Norwegian Furniture
Furniture, he said, should work as intended. Seating furniture must be adapted to anatomical requirements. Still, beyond this, they should in their form help to characterize an environment with security and warmth and often appeal to something familiar and dear.Read More →
-
Tias Eckhoff (1926 – 2016) Norwegian designer, metalworker, ceramicist
Tias Eckhoff (1926 – 2016) was a well-known industrial designer in Norway. His production was constrained, but many of his products have endured as timeless design classics. In addition to the design of RBM Ana, RBM Bella, and Low-back Bella, he was also responsible for the famous Maya cutlery and Glohane tableware, to name a…
-
Torolf Prytz (1858 – 1938) Norwegian Architect & Designer
He began working with goldsmith Oluf Tostrup, the son of goldsmith Jacob Tostrup and co-owner of J. Tostrup. When Oluf Tostrup died in 1882, Prytz became formally associated with J. Tostrup. He was advanced from head designer to co-owner in 1884, after two years of study. Prytz purchased the entire company after Jacob Tostrup died…
-
Nora Gulbrandsen (1894 – 1978) Norwegian Designer
She was born to Aksel Julius Hanssen and Anna Sofie Lund in Kristiania (now Oslo), Norway. From 1917 until 1922, she was married to wholesaler Carl Ziegler Gulbrandsen (1892–1976). She married Otto Delphin Amundsen, an engineer and genealogist, in 1943.Read More →
-
Willy Johansson: A Maestro of Norwegian Glass Design
Born in 1921, Willy Johansson was a transformative figure in the world of glassware design. Known for his white rim on clear or smoked glassware, he led the design team at Hadeland Glassworks, garnering global recognition and multiple awards. His designs were versatile, ranging from mass-produced wares to unique pieces, deeply influenced by 1930s cultural…
-
Hannah Ryggen (1894 – 1970) Swedish textile designer
Hannah Ryggen (1894 – 1970) was a textile designer and teacher from Sweden. She was born in Malmö and worked professionally in Norway.Read More →
-
Rethinking Sitting by Peter Opsvik (Paperback)
Humans have lived physically active lives for millions of years. On the other hand, industrialisation has bred passivity and aRead More →
-
Ida Ekblad Norwegian genre crossing artist
Ida Ekblad’s practise incorporates painting and sculpture but also poetry, filmmaking and performance. The Norwegian artist has collaborated with multipleRead More →
Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.