Johan Nordhagen
Encyclopedia
Johan Nordhagen was a Norwegian
painter and artist.
under the farm of Flisaker. His father was from Grue
, and had his relatives in Finland. He worked as a cartwheel
-maker. His mother Ahlis was from Veldre
. Johan grew up in poverty.
Nordhagen drew a lot in his childhood, and was often told to do something useful instead. It was just a coincidence that Nordhagen in his youth made contact with persons who helped him making a career in art. Around the age of 17 he came to the capital Kristiania, and started working in the bookstore of the Christian organization Lutherstiftelsen.
with sculptor Middelthun. Later he was employed by the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmåling) as litographer and terraindrawer and won two scholarships that enabled him to travel to study abroad, fist to Copenhagen and then to Paris. In Norway there was no art printing expertise so a committee was established to work towards establishing a study of graphic art at Kunst og Håndverksskolen (art and crafts school). Johan Nordhagen's background in lithographic portraits and etching, made him the obvious leader and teacher of this education. In 1897 he got a substantial grant from the Parliament of Norway to go to Germany to obtain even more knowledge for the assignment.
king Oscar II in 1892, and (in gold) from king Haakons in 1929. He also received several medals and recognitions from exhibitions around the World. In his older days he often visited Veldre, where he had a vacation house until 1937. Even after selling that, he often visited acquaintances in the community to make sketches and studies for later artistic work. Nordhagen had an enormous graphic productjon (lithography and etchings), but also drawings and paintings, his artistic and procuctive career spanned over 80 years.
He died on 28 August 1956, 100 years old. He was the father of Rolf Nordhagen
and Johan Nordhagen and grandfather of Per Jonas Nordhagen
.
Veldre Historielag (historical society) in 1988 published a richly illustrated book on the grapic artist Nordhagen where the author describes the artist's adolescence and artistic life. The society has also over the years acquired quite a lot of etchings and one big painting from Nordhagen's substantial production. Some of Nordhagen's motifs have been published as postcards.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
painter and artist.
Childhood
Johan Nordhagen grew up in the cotters place of NordhagenNordhagen
Nordhagen is a surname of Norwegian origin. It may refer to:*Christine Nordhagen , Canadian Olympic wrestler*Johan Nordhagen , Norwegian artist*Olaf Nordhagen , Norwegian architect, engineer, and artist...
under the farm of Flisaker. His father was from Grue
Grue, Norway
Grue is a municipality in Hedmark county, Norway. It is part of the traditional region of Solør. The administrative centre of the municipality is the village of Kirkenær ....
, and had his relatives in Finland. He worked as a cartwheel
Cartwheel
A cartwheel is a part of a cart. It may also mean:*Cartwheel , an acrobatic maneuver*Cartwheel Galaxy*Cart-wheel hat, worn by women*Slang term for a silver dollar coin -See also:...
-maker. His mother Ahlis was from Veldre
Veldre
Veldre is an area of hills climbing from Brumunddal in Norway. The area is mostly high-productive farmland and pine forest. The top of the Houmbs-høgda offers a splendid view over the Hedemarken district and southern parts of Lake Mjøsa....
. Johan grew up in poverty.
Nordhagen drew a lot in his childhood, and was often told to do something useful instead. It was just a coincidence that Nordhagen in his youth made contact with persons who helped him making a career in art. Around the age of 17 he came to the capital Kristiania, and started working in the bookstore of the Christian organization Lutherstiftelsen.
Art school
People noticed his talent for drawing, and it was arranged that he should study at the Royal School of DrawingNorwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry
The Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry was established in 1818.In 1996 the National Academy of Craft and Art Industry became part of Oslo National Academy of the Arts .-Noted alumni:-External links:*...
with sculptor Middelthun. Later he was employed by the Norwegian Mapping and Cadastre Authority (then known as Norges Geografiske Oppmåling) as litographer and terraindrawer and won two scholarships that enabled him to travel to study abroad, fist to Copenhagen and then to Paris. In Norway there was no art printing expertise so a committee was established to work towards establishing a study of graphic art at Kunst og Håndverksskolen (art and crafts school). Johan Nordhagen's background in lithographic portraits and etching, made him the obvious leader and teacher of this education. In 1897 he got a substantial grant from the Parliament of Norway to go to Germany to obtain even more knowledge for the assignment.
The King's order of merit
On October 1, 1899, the class for etching was established. Nordhagen headed it for 20 years, and without his work Norwegian graphic art would not have been able to obtain the position it holds today. Nordhagen is one of the few to have received The King's order of merit from two different kings. He received the first (in silver) fromHe died on 28 August 1956, 100 years old. He was the father of Rolf Nordhagen
Rolf Nordhagen (botanist)
Rolf Nordhagen is a Norwegian botanist.-Personal life:He was born in Kristiania as a son of artist Johan Nordhagen and Christine Magdalene Johansen . He was a brother of Olaf Nordhagen. In August 1925 in Oslo he married Elisabeth Marie Myhre...
and Johan Nordhagen and grandfather of Per Jonas Nordhagen
Per Jonas Nordhagen
Per Jonas Nordhagen is a Norwegian art historian.He was born in Bergen as a son of professor Rolf Nordhagen and Elisabeth Marie Myhre . He was a grandson of Johan Nordhagen and nephew of Olaf Nordhagen...
.
The art book
Many of Nordhagen's motifs were from Ringsaker and Veldrebygda. His portraits of both famous and unknown persons, of local community originals, clothing, work situations, interiors and building customs has a tremendous cultural historic value and means a lot to his descendants.Veldre Historielag (historical society) in 1988 published a richly illustrated book on the grapic artist Nordhagen where the author describes the artist's adolescence and artistic life. The society has also over the years acquired quite a lot of etchings and one big painting from Nordhagen's substantial production. Some of Nordhagen's motifs have been published as postcards.