Harriet Backer – an exhibition

Although not well known outside Norway, Harriet Backer was the country’s most famous female painter of the late 19th century. She was highly praised for her rich and glowing use of color, creating a unique style that combined indoor scenes and outdoor painting. She was influenced by the realist movement and Impressionism, using free brushstrokes and paying close attention to light. She is also known for her gentle portraits of rural life and her interest in painting church interiors.

During a time when women were not fully recognized as citizens in Norway, she broke barriers and became an important figure in the art world. She served on the board and acquisitions committee of the Norwegian National Gallery for twenty years. In the early 1890s, she opened a painting school where she taught future notable artists like Nikolai Astrup, Halfdan Egedius, and Helga Ring Reusch. She was supported by collector Rasmus Meyer, who was also a patron of Edvard Munch.

Harriet Backer – an exhibition

Location: Orsay
Dates: September 24, 2024 – January 12, 2025

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