– The picture is a romanticization of Norwegians who went to America. It is a colonialist image, says department director Stina Högkvist Aftenposten.
The painting “Leiv Eiriksson discovers America” from 1893 is one of Krohg’s most famous paintings and formerly adorned the stairwell in the old National Museum. Now it is placed in the basement, like several other famous paintings.
This is part of a modernization of the museum’s profile, says Högkvist, who explains that they want to challenge a standard that has historically been constituted by white, male artists.
– We are now showing more female artists, more Sami artists and more art by people who happen to not be born with white skin. We shall continue with this. We must have a socially relevant, fresh look at art history.
GIFT: “Leiv Eiriksson discovers America” was given to the National Museum as a gift from the Leif Erikson Memorial Association in Chicago in 1900. Photo: Christian Krogh / NTB
The museum’s artistic update, and in particular the removal of the Krohg painting, causes the leader Eivor Evenrud (Ap) in Oslo City Council’s culture and education committee to react, writes Our Oslo. She thinks it is completely absurd that the Krohg painting is put in the basement.
– What’s the point of everything from the past being read into the present and having new labels affixed to it, writes Evenrud on his Facebook page.
– What are you afraid the audience will think? Do you think people are so intellectually weak that they themselves are unable to understand that something has changed in 130 years?
(© NTB)
