Scandinavian Folk Designs (Dover Pictorial Archive)

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The KUBE Art Museum is next door in a building that used to be an office for Norges Bank (and presumably gets its name from the building’s cuboid shape). It is both an educational and art centre that features artists and artwork from the surrounding region. What is different about these styles is that the designs are more refined and sleeker in appearance. We also see a finer delineation of curves and the characteristic spiral that accentuates and defines the hip areas of the four-legged animal appear smaller. The Academician carved an animal head post, the head appears to be a beast with an open mouth. It is decorated with interweaving carved patterns while the rest of the body is plain wood. The patterns appear more as a singular motif utilized. What is unique about the Buddha-like figures is their close resemblance to Asian culture, and it is debated whether this was influenced by it, particularly the Buddhist culture. In Denmark, Skønvirke magazine started publishing in 1914. Its content was inspired by old Danish handicrafts and national Romanticism, with international influences appearing in decorations. The word “Skønvirke” became synonymous with Art Nouveau and Jugend. The delicate nature-inspired forms, graceful lines and colors fit the Scandinavian aesthetic well.

Some of the main characteristics of Viking Art include its functionality. This is evident in the wide selection of art (or ornamentation) portrayed on various everyday objects like drinking vessels, armor, weapons, storage containers, jewelry, ship equipment, and parts like oars, furniture, and much more. Viking artwork, or more broadly Norse artwork, combined with their daily life and represented their beliefs about the world. This encompasses a wide range of styles and movements, from modern and contemporary art to traditional fine arts like painting and sculpture. The art of Rosemåling flourished in rural parts of Norway during the 1700s and is still practiced by traditional folk artists in Norway.

What distinguishes Scandinavian art from Scandinavian folk art?

Not to be confused with the politician of the same name, Nikolai Astrup was a Norwegian artist known for his use of vivid colours in his landscape depictions. His style has been compared to Munch’s – but happier. A vivid Nikolai Astrup painting Dalmålning or Dala painting (Swedish): Dalmalning refers to the traditional decorative painting style from the Dalarna region of Sweden. It is characterized by bright colors, geometric patterns, and motifs like Dala horses. Art and design mirror the society they are a part of. But with the globalization of ideas increasing and the world of communication shrinking, a design will not be influenced solely by the culture in which it originates.

Jellinge is the small city where Harold Bluetooth had the giant Jellinge stones erected to honor his parents and to tell that he turned the Danes to Christianity; National Museum of Denmark from Denmark, No restrictions, via Wikimedia CommonsThe Urnes Viking style is the last of the categorized Viking artwork styles, and it is named after the Stave Church in the village called Urnes, in the Vestland county in Norway. The church’s northern face depicts carvings done in wood in an elaborate relief style.