CATALOGUE RAISONNÉ

Peder Balke (1804 – 1887) Norwegian painter and one of the most outstanding painters of the Romantic movement in Northern Europe. A journey to the northernmost parts of Scandinavia in 1832 came to haunt his works with visions of the sublime Arctic landscape throughout his artistic career. Travelling widely, Balke encountered some of the leading artists and intellectuals of 19^th century Europe. His mentors, the Swedish painter Carl Johan Fahlcrantz and the Norwegian artist Johan Christian Dahl, as well as the German Romantic Caspar David Friedrich, were all of importance – though Balke eventually would develop his own, highly individual and experimental manner of painting. The artist – himself of humble origin and a dedicated social reformer who sympathized with the early labour movement – was patronized by royalty and discerning collectors. In Paris in the late 1840s, he received a large commission from King Louis-Philippe.

Despised by contemporary critics and marginalized by art historians and institutions, Balke’s art was gradually resurrected in his native Norway during the 20^th century. It is only recently, however, that he has become an internationally recognised artist.

In 2020, the Nordic Institute of Art published a new monograph on the artist in collaboration with Skira. It was authored by Dr. Knut Ljøgodt and based on the Peder Balke works in The Gundersen Collection, the largest existing collection of the artist. In addition, the Nordic Institute of Art and Knut Ljøgodt has co-organized several exhibitions of Balke’s works. Dr. Ljøgodt is a leading expert on the artist and is currently working on a catalogue raisonné on this prolific 19^th century painter.

Peder Balke is further represented in the Musée du Louvre, Paris, National Museum, Oslo, KODE Art Museums and Composer Homes, Bergen, The National Gallery, London, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm, Gothenburg Art Museum, Gothenburg, SMK – National Gallery of Denmark, Copenhagen, as well as other public and private collections in Scandinavia, Europe and the USA.

Editor in chief and author: Knut Ljøgodt

Researcher: Ann Falahat

To be launched in 2028.