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H I S TO R Y & A R C H I T E C T U R E I S S U E 2 2
1851
Henrik Ibsen
(1828–1906)
is hired by Ole
Bull to work at
the Norwegian
Theater in Bergen.
May 17, 1864
The national song
"Ja, vi elsker dette
landet" ("Yes, we
love this country")
is first performed in
connection with the
50th anniversary of
the constitution.
1870
The Bergslien
School of Painting
is established.
1894
Dalen Hotel is built
in Telemark, Norway.
1848
Painters Hans Gude
(1825–1903) and Adolph
Tidemand (1814–1876)
collaborate on Brudeferd
i Hardanger ("Bridal
Procession on the
Hardangerfjord").
1858
Ole Bull meets and
encourages 15-year-old
Edvard Grieg (1843–1907)
to study music at the
Leipzig Conservatory.
1867
Frognerseteren
(The Heftye
House) is built in
Oslo, Norway.
1877
The first
construction
phase of the
Kviknes Hotel
is completed
in Balestrand,
Norway.
1900
Hans Dahl
(1849–1937)
paints Crossing
the Fjord in a
Breeze.
With independence from Denmark came a
new interest in a uniquely Norwegian identity
among the nation's artists, composers,
writers and scholars—who, in turn, idealised
rural and folk life, in which such an identity
could be found. This movement to collect,
define and celebrate what it meant to be
Norwegian came to be known as Norsk
nasjonal romantikk, or Norwegian National
Romanticism. Fairy tales, folk songs, dances
and traditional dress all attained elevated
status in the people's collective imagination.
So, too, did the unique grandeur of the
land—in particular, Norway's majestic
mountains and fjords. In total, the movement
inspired creative breakthroughs in art, music,
literature, architecture and even linguistics.
Norwegian National Romanticism lasted for
about half a century and contributed to
Norway's full independence movement,
which ultimately led to the peaceful
dissolution of the country's union with
Sweden in 1905. Diverging political views
between the people of Norway and the
crown of Sweden led the Norwegian
parliament to declare full independence on
June 7, making King Oscar the last king of
unified Norway and Sweden.
Subsequently, the Norwegian government
identified Prince Carl of Denmark as a
candidate for the throne—largely because he
had descended from Norwegian kings. He
agreed to accept only if chosen by popular
vote and called for a referendum, in which he
achieved a 79% vote of confidence. As an
homage to his new country, he took the Old
Norse name of Haakon and, upon swearing
in as King Haakon VII, became the first
independent king of Norway in 518 years
and one of the world's few elected
monarchs.
The story of Ole Bull
