The Struggle for Existence: The Paintings of Christian Krohg

His name was Christian Krohg. He was an artist, a writer, an illustrator, and journalist. When he was old, he looked Father Christmas. A jolly Santa Claus with his long beard and rosy cheeks and ever permanent smile. He was born in Oslo on August 13th, 1852. He was one of five children born to Georg Anton Krohg and Sophie Amalia Holst. His grandfather had been a famous politician. His father was a civil servant and writer. The Krohgs were multi-talented. Never let a day pass without achieving something.

These were the days when children could not say, “You’re not the boss of me.” Children were expected to do what their parents told them. There was no choice. A child got on with life and embraced the challenges.

Krohg’s mother died in 1861. His Aunt took charge of the household. Krohg was sent to the Hartvig Nissen School. A private school. His father had one demand: his son must study Law and become a lawyer. Krohg followed his father’s wishes. Though Krohg harboured other thoughts. He wanted to be an artist. He desired a life where he could express himself.

When qualified as a lawyer, Krohg followed his own ambition. He studied art. He had talent. What some of his teachers called “great talent“. He travelled Europe. He painted continuously. He wrote news articles. He wrote stories of his experiences. He penned a pornographic novel about prostitution called Albertine. Krohg wrote what he knew. The novel was banned in Norway.

Krohg was in some ways like Ernest Hemingway. He painted what he knew. What he experienced. Krohg moved art from Romanticism to Realism. His paintings depicted the lives of men and women at that time in their day-to-day activities.