Ved sundet, Bjelland 1862

Amaldus Nielsen made this oil on canvas landscape, "Ved sundet, Bjelland", sometime between 1838 and 1932. Nielsen was a painter who devoted himself to naturalism. In this genre, artists emphasized precise observation and the depiction of everyday life, in contrast to the more idealized or romanticized approaches that preceded it. During the 19th century in Norway, there was a growing interest in national identity and cultural heritage. Naturalism was a potent way to reflect these concerns. Artists like Nielsen turned to the Norwegian landscape as a source of inspiration, seeking to capture its unique character and beauty. His work can be read as a conservative reflection of his present. It served to reinforce a sense of national pride and connection to the land. To fully appreciate paintings such as this, we can investigate period sources like exhibition catalogs, reviews, and artists’ correspondence to reveal the cultural values invested in such imagery.