Nordic Art 1880-1910 (I) (Room 20)

Nordic art underwent major changes in the late 1880s. Many artists travelled to France to stay in touch with new artistic currents. A number of them gathered in Grez-sur-Loing on the outskirts of Paris, forming an international community where they exchanged ideas and forged lasting connections. When these artists returned home around the turn of the century, their work took on a new emotional tone. Expression and mood became more important than detailed realism, and many artists sought to capture national character—often through motifs such as glowing summer evenings. A blue-toned Nordic light permeated their works, and their attention shifted inward toward more introspective, melancholic themes. In this room, you will find examples from the period by artists such as Edvard Munch, Anders Zorn and Ivan Aguéli.