Ásgrímur Jónsson (March 4, 1876 – April 5, 1958) was an Icelandic painter, and one of the first in the country to make art a professional living. Ásgrímur Jónsson Iceland
He studied at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen between 1900 and 1903 and travelled widely after graduation. The subjects of his pictures are mostly the landscapes of his home country, particularly mountains. His painting style is similar to the French impressionists like Corot.
Some of his pictures also illustrate Icelandic sagas and folk tales. (Source Wikipedia)
Visiting his house in Reykjavik introduced me to this interesting and quite unique artist. Despite being trained in Copenhagen, he retained independent from the contemporary European art scene. He concentrated on recognising the haunting landscape of his native country.
A local businessman and entrepreneur and art collector Ragnar Jonsson, said of Ásgrímur: “he did not paint subjects from life, he painted primal energy, the climate and governing sources – the light from the sky. The wonderous ever-changing sunlight. The streaming power that gives our world life and colour, the trembling, thrilling morning rays that infiltrate the soul and light the wild ever youthful joy that allows us to lift the leaden earth above dreary mundanity”.
Ásgrímur Jónsson: “At first when I returned from my studies Iceland was virgin country for painters”. And so, it was. Other foreign artists had visited and painted the countryside but not with the flourish and identification that can be detected in Jónsson’s works.
We visited his home and studio in Reykjavik and were impressed by the care it has received over the years and in particular it’s preservation as though the artists had only just stepped outside.
Displayed on the wall of his studio is one of my favourite works of his. This to me depicts the essence of life at the time in Reykjavik. Midnight sun, cold and haunting yet warm, welcome and comfort glowing from the house windows. This seems to remain the culture of the country.
