Peder Balke

Interesting exhibition at the National Gallery focusing on the landscape paintings of Norwegian artist Peder Balke.

Balke travelled a lot in his early life but then gave up painting for politics and property development but spent the rest of his life exploring the themes of his earlier trips. In this later phase he painted for his won pleasure and did not sell works so they are very personal.

There were interesting paint techniques with some sea picture having water which was almost sculpted in white paint but others had an almost ironed quality, having very flat thin paint. They were rather beautiful but did become a bit repetitive. For example the same boat with the same combination of men appeared in a number of pictures.

There was very little commentary to the works but I guess other than setting the scene there was not much more to say!

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