Portrait of Prime Minister Michelsen 1906

Erik Werenskiold made this portrait of Prime Minister Michelsen with oil on canvas, but when? Who knows! The monochrome palette gives the painting a timeless quality, like a faded photograph or a memory half-recalled. You can see the brushstrokes, thick and deliberate, especially in the background, suggesting a space filled with books and shadows. These strokes are like thoughts, layered and complex, each one contributing to the overall mood. The paint is applied with a confidence that speaks to Werenskiold's mastery of his medium. The way he captures the light on Michelsen's face is particularly striking. It gives him a sense of depth and character, a gravitas fitting for a leader. There's something about the way the artist has chosen to depict him, not as a grand figure, but as a man deep in thought. It reminds me a little of Whistler's portraits, in its subdued tones and focus on capturing a mood rather than a perfect likeness. In the end, it's not just a portrait, but a meditation on power, responsibility, and the weight of history.