Anne Grimdalen

Anne Grimdalen (1 November 1899 – 3 October 1961) was a Norwegian sculptor. She was born on the mountain farm Grimdalen in Skafså, Telemark, and later also lived and worked in the so-called "Kunstnerdalen" in Asker. She worked mainly with granite, and also bronze. She is represented at the National Gallery of Norway, and was one of the main contributors to the decorations of Oslo City Hall.

Education

Grimdalen studied at "Statens Håndverks- og Kunstindustriskole" in Oslo from 1923 to 1926, at Statens Kunstakademi (1927-1929) under Wilhelm Rasmussen, and in Copenhagen under Einar Utzon-Frank. She made study travels to Italy (1933-34), Greece (1935), Paris and Italy (1938), and London (1947). Two of her inspirators were the painters Henrik Sørensen and Otto Valstad.

Works

Grimdalen is especially known for her many animal sculptures, made in a simplistic style, often in granite, such as "Gaupe" (Lynx, 1928), "Bjørn" (Bear, 1933). She made several contributions to the decoration of Oslo City Hall, [http://www.radhusets-forvaltningstjeneste.oslo.kommune.no/oslo_city_hall/the_city_hall/ The City Hall] "Oslo kommune, Rådhusets forvaltningstjeneste" (Retrieved on 23 September 2008)] [http://en.visittelemark.com/se_og_gjoere/attraksjoner/museums/(details)/1?&TLl=en&TLdb=11,35,73,74,75,78,97,313,314,328&TLco=no&TLcc=11000043&TLdc=116&TLll=20&TLp=145846 Grimdalstunet] (Retrieved on 23 September 2008)] after surprisingly winning the decoration contest in 1938, [http://akershus.kulturnett.no/Historie/Kunstner/kunstbild/grimdalen.html Anne (Marie) Grimdalen] "akershus.kulturnett.no" (Retrieved on 23 September 2008) no icon] such as "Tømmerfløtere" (Log drivers) and "Dyrefontene" (Animal fountain), and the large equestrian statue of Harald III on the west wall (1938-1950). A relief of psalmist Magnus Brostrup Landstad (1951) is placed outside the church of Seljord.

She is represented at the National Gallery of Norway ("Jenta på hesten", Riding girl, bronze, 1931).

Later works are the monuments of Anders Hovden (1958, Ørsta), Audun Hugleiksson (1959, Jølster) and Håkon den Gode (1961, Fitjar).

Museum

The art museum "Grimdalstunet" was later built at her home farm Grimdalen in Skafså (now within Tokke municipality), and contains a collection of more than 250 of her sculptures. [http://www.vest-telemark.museum.no/article/archive/25/ Grimdalstunet] "Vest-Telemark Museum" (Retrieved on 22 September 2008) no icon] The mountain farm itself is also a museum, with buildings from the time of barter economy in the 17th century.

References