There is some spectacular scenery under the polar ice. Antarctica must have amazing features. A good setting for Lovecraft’s mountains of madness.
Adelsteen Normann (1848–1918)
Adelsteen Normann had a talent for capturing the drama of Norway’s fjords. He painted them with crisp light, sweeping perspective, and a sense of scale that makes you feel small in the best possible way. His compositions often include still water reflecting sharp cliffs and distant villages, so the viewer feels both the grandeur of the land and the quietness of life within it. Normann’s fjords are not just landscapes, they are stage sets for nature itself.What sets him apart is the clarity and freshness of his color. He used cool blues and greens to give his waters depth, while his skies often glow with soft evening or morning light. The result is a harmony that feels both majestic and calm. His ships, small towns, and figures are painted with care, but they never overwhelm the natural setting. He understood that in Norway the landscape is always the main character.
Normann also played an important role outside of his own art. While living in Germany, he promoted Norwegian painters in international exhibitions, helping bring attention to the power of Nordic landscape painting. His own works were admired across Europe, and they remain popular for their ability to convey both strength and serenity. Looking at one of his fjord scenes, you sense not only the beauty of the place, but also the pride of an artist who knew how unique his homeland truly was.