Harald Sohlberg

Harald Sohlberg was a Norwegian painter best known for one of his country's most beloved images. Born in Oslo in 1869, he painted the landscapes of Norway with intense color and a still, dreamlike clarity. His masterpiece, Winter Night in the Mountains, shows blue peaks under a starry sky, an image so cherished that Norwegians have voted it their national painting.

He worked slowly and obsessively, returning to favorite subjects again and again to get the mood exactly right. His scenes often carry a deep sense of stillness and mystery, touched by Symbolism. Though he produced a relatively small body of work, Sohlberg's luminous, haunting landscapes have secured him a treasured place in Norwegian art.