Highlights from the National Museum in Oslo include: Blue Hour and Natteglød paintings by Norwegian artist Harald Sohlberg, a contemporary of Edvard Munch; snow scenes by Claude Monet, who spent a winter in Norway and asked Frits Thaulow for advice on painting snow; a Midsummer Night Bonfire (Jonsokbäl) painting by Nikolai Astrup; and a painting of the Norwegian folktale White Bear King Valemon by Theodor Kittelsen. Many of the painting are reminiscent of paintings in the Northern Lights exhibit in Buffalo, NY that I wrote about a few months ago: they feature glowing night skies, majestic mountains, and uninhabited, wild landscapes. 

Maine art review. My take on why the Lynne Drexler exhibit at the Farnsworth is a must-see, for artists as well as Maine art lovers. Drexler’s abstract paintings from the 1960s are lyrical, joyful compositions, and we could all use a little more joy these days.