Christian Krohg

Christian Krohg , 1852-1925, Norwegian genre and portrait painter and author. After studying on the continent, Krohg returned to Norway in 1878 and became a well-known advocate of impressionism. He later taught in Paris and in 1909 became director of the Oslo Academy. In The Struggle for Existence (4 vol., 1920-21) he advocated the social mission of the arts.

Krohg, Christian (1852–1925). Norwegian painter, active mainly in Christiania (now Oslo), although he had a lengthy stay in Paris from 1902 to 1909. He took his subjects mainly from ordinary life—often from its sombre or unsavoury aspects. In particular, he is well known for his paintings of prostitutes, and he wrote a controversial novel on the same subject (Albertine, 1886). His work was often attacked by conservative critics, but his vigorous and forthright tackling of modern issues made him a hero to many Norwegian artists of a younger generation, most notably Munch. His son Per Krohg (1889–1965) was also a painter. In his early work he specialized in scenes of city life, using bright Fauvist colours (he studied under Matisse in Paris) and exaggerated gestures that sometimes border on caricature (Kiki of Montparnasse, 1928, NG, Oslo). From about 1930, however, his style became more naturalistic and he worked mainly as a muralist, decorating many public buildings, particularly in Oslo. Father and son both held the post of director of the Academy of Fine Arts in Oslo, Christian from 1909 until his death, Per from 1955 to 1958.

Krohg, Christian (1852–1925). Norwegian painter. After taking a degree in law in 1873, he trained as a painter in Germany, then in 1881–2 worked in Paris. Thereafter he lived mainly in Christiania (now Oslo), although he had a lengthy stay in Paris from 1902 to 1909, when he taught at the Académie Colarossi. In 1909 he was appointed director of the newly founded Academy of Fine Arts in Christiania and he held this post until his death. Krohg took his subjects mainly from ordinary life—often from its sombre or unsavoury aspects. In particular, he is well known for his paintings of prostitutes, and he wrote a controversial novel on the same subject (Albertine, 1886). His work was often attacked by conservative critics, but his vigorous and forthright tackling of modern issues made him a hero to many Norwegian artists of a younger generation, most notably Edvard Munch.

His son Per Krohg (1889–1965) was also a painter. He trained in Paris, first under his father at the Académie Colarossi, 1903–7, then with Matisse. In his early work he specialized in scenes of city life, using bright Fauvist colours and exaggerated gestures that sometimes border on caricature (Kiki of Montparnasse, NG, Oslo, 1928). After settling permanently in Norway in 1930, however, his style became more naturalistic and he worked mainly as a muralist, decorating many public buildings, particularly in Oslo. He taught at the Academy in Oslo from 1946 to 1958 and followed in his father's footsteps by becoming director in 1955.