The Scandinavian home: art and identity, 1880-1920

Abstract

"The arts played a crucial role in reinforcing a shared sense of belonging amongst Nordic countries as they strove to identify and celebrate authentic local and national identities. "Home" was a central metaphor in the nation building activities of each country. The links between land, landscape, handicraft and domestic dwellings as dimensions of home are embedded in this survey which brings the extensive collection of David and Susan Werner into public view for the first time.The catalogue encompasses an impressive range of paintings, drawings, furniture, textiles, glass, metalwork, and ceramics. Highlights include rare tapestries and a wooden cabinet by Norwegian artist Gerhard Munthe, Finnish ceramics by Alfred William Finch, landscape paintings by Hilma af Klint, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Gustav Fjaestad and Pekka Halonen, and functional objects by outstanding handicraft artists covering embroidery, metalwork and wooden implements" -- from publisher's website.

Contents

Director's foreword -- Acknowledgements -- Curators' introduction: home as history / Patricia G. Berman and Michelle Facos -- Interview with David and Susan Werner -- Essays -- Home / Michelle Facos -- Vital bodies / Patricia G. Berman -- Art Nouveau and nature / Sabine Wieber -- A natural presence: Nordic landscape painting in the nineteenth century / Thor J. Mednick -- Dragon tales: glimpses of the dragon style in nineteenth-century Norway / Tonje Haugland Sørensen -- Gerhard Munthe as the creator of a new style / Jan Kokkin -- Artists' homes / Charlotte Ashby -- Wood as good: precious design and cheap nature / Kjetil Fallan -- Nordic ceramics circa 1900 / Dawn R. Brean -- Notes -- Checklist -- Contributors -- Index -- Image credits.