Oscar E. Gustafson
1885 - 1949
Oscar Emanuel Gustafson was born in 1885, son of Sofie Bryngelsson and Karl
Richard Gustafsson. Married to Karen Sörensen and the following children:
1. Egill Oscar, photographer *1933 and Ragnar *1937
Egill newly
born with
mother Karen
Portrait of Sofie
Bryngelsson and Karl
Richard Gustafsson.
Original in black and
white but improved by
the son, artist Gustaf
Emanuel Gustafson
Karen with Egill
Oscar with Egill and Ragnar
Egill Oscar Gustafson (below) is following in his father’s footstep as an
artistic photographer. He is living in Mexico as a photographer and is
wellknown and has edited a book called Pike Place Market and has
written many articles on photographing. Eqill’s address and e-mail: San
Cristobal de las Casas. C.P. 2923O. CHIAPAS, Mexico ejpemanuel@gmail.com
Photo from Egill Gustafson’s book
Pike Place Market
Ragnar is married to Rosemary who has
also written a book – see next page!
Rosemary’s book: STAR’S
Miracles and More
Cover and backcover
Ragnar’s and Rosmary’s e-mail:
sonshinelighthouse@msn.com
“Artist HENRIK SORENSEN was as I mentioned cousin to my
mother’s father *ANTON MARIUS GAADE SORENSEN in
Sarpsborg. I remember him very well, as he always visited
our father OSCAR EMANMUEL GUSTAFSON, also a painter
popularly called "SORLANDSMALEREN" who had yearly
expositions at Oscarsgate 33 in Oslo.”
Oscar Gustafson participated in the productuion of cinema and
theater and is mentioned as one of the pioneers in Norwegian
film history. He co-operated with Peter Lykke-Seest in the films
"En Vinternat" (1917) and "De foreldreløse" (1917) – here some
pictures from these motion pictures.
THE HEROES OF OUR TIME – Spectacle in
5 acts and the company’s name “Kristiania
Film Co A/S”
"HUBERTI" - "FROSKEKONGEN" - "SLANGEMENNESKET" were by-names
for my father when he acted on the scene as a wellknown artist. His talent
was discovered by a Dane whose nick-name in Christiania (Oslo) was
"SLANGEHANSEN“.
At that time Father studied with the artist painter CHRISTIAN KROGH.
"HUBERTI“ (Oscar) was active in the years 19O5 - 1912. He married on his
birthday 27th January 1907 ALFRIDA STRANDBERG from Malmo – Sweden
and bought a house in Vejle Denmark, where they settled.
Father was good looking and was often compared to the actor GUNNAR
TOLLNES. Then, in 1915 - 1916 he started in CHRISTIANIA FILM in
Christiania as actor – painter - decorator and co-stage-maker! The film EN
VINTERNAT had its Premiere 28-7-1917, and DE FORAELDRELOSE its
Premiere 21- 11-1917.
Our father, OSCAR EMANUEL GUSTAFSON was born 27-1-1885 in
Christiania. Baptized in the church of PAULI Christiania on 15-3-1885, and
he died on 24-7-1949 in RiksHospitalet, Oslo from gallway cancer. Buried at
the Vestre Gravlund in Oslo, 29-7-1949.
( Grave No. XOO6 - O4 - O25 )
After having lived to see the creative epoque in theater and cinema
Oscar Gustafson was attracted to another form of art – he became an art
painter. He got the first tracks by none less than the master Christian
Krohg, Norway’s first academy rector (1909 -1925)
Ung kvinne
Begravelse i nordlann
Self portrait by C. Krohg
Gustafson looking for motifs, here at high elevation with an old Ford. He
selected the most beautiful sceneries, many were real tourist attractions.
Excursion to the sea with sand dunes,
tent and wife
Living in a tent at Grenen in
Skagen med wife Karen
Sörensen, who he portrayed
with several excellent paintings.
Two portraaits of Karen Sörensen
Interior with three paintings: 2 landscapes and a portrait of
Oscar Gustafson’s wife Karen
Soluppgång vid havet med mor och två
barn. At right Gustafson with the palet. .
Chapel in the
countyside
Horses grazing - Hästar
på bete and a portrait
Love to Nature is typical of Oscar E. Gustafson’s paintings. Inspired
by his teacher – master Christian Krohg’s naturalistic style in art Oscar E. Gustafson captured throughout the most beautiful views
and transmits to all art lovers his sentiment for Natures’s beauties
in fresh and warm colours. It is of course a perfect promotion for
conserving the values we confess and really want to keep. For this
reason we can speak of an honorable nature conservation in art.
But it is not so easy to evoke a life’s achievment with much
success as an art painter, because most paintings were sold and
“lost” and colour photography had not been introduced when he
was as most active as a painter. However, thanks to Gustafson’s
son Ragnar I have been able to reproduce a nice collection of
photos, both in black and white and in colour and several art
reviews which express appreciation and admiration for his art. The
paintings that get the highest prices on the market are often not the
naturalistic paintings but rather those belonging to an “ism”:
modernism, surrealism, etc. Gustafson’s paintings are easy to
understand – they are not false or contain strange things and all
who bought his art can be happy to have a painting that is
ornamental in their homes and has become part of their lives. (S.N.)
Scenery from the Norwegian mountains by Oscar Gustafson with Nils
Nehlin, Uppsala, sitting below the painting, which is owned by Kerstin
Nehlin, Fruängen, Stockholm.
“Trollfjorden, Lofoten”
River Thames London
Oscar E. Gustafson –
Self portrait
Norwegian Painter in Aarhus, Denmark
The Norwegian Painter Oscar E. Gustafson, who at the
present time is exposing in Aarhus Art Building, will not
frighten away people with modernism of any kind. He is
building directly on the basis of the traditions of naturalist
painting, translates what he is seing and reproducing it
spontaneously as he grasps it without unfortunate mishaps
of any kind. Aside from one single nice portrait of the artist’s
wife, one can see many landscapes, Norwegian motifs, some
Danish ones and an evening painting from London, mountain
tops, roaring rapids, the characteristic Norwegian farmers
houses. – “Der tager sig saa nydelige ue i Dalstroegen
Midnatsolens mystiske Lys over Vand og Fjeld og Havet, der
torner mod de yderste Skaer, Norge paa alle Aarets Tider. –
Man laegger saerlig Maerke til Laerredder som “Fred,
Pinsenat, Solnedgangen ved Vågå-Vandet, Midnatssolen ved
Malla, det ovenfor gengivne Tobrudsbillede, Solopgangen
ved Kristiansand og Kystbillede fra Vesterålen.”
Oscar Gustafson in his studio with two paintings, marine
motifs, the one with windmills from Denmark
“The art exhibition at Hotell Royal (in Säffle) will be moved Saturday
to Grums, and citizens of Säffle, who have not yet seen the
Norwegian artist Oscar E. Gustafson’s paintings ought to take the
opportunity. – The sphere of motifs is pretty wide, and he has
mounted his easel in Norway, England and France among other
countries. The Exposition contains many marines, which in several
cases easily can be decribed as landscape motifs. Here are
presented passages from Ekesund, both with sun rises, from
Trollfjorden at Lofoten, the so called Ramsundet, the mythical and
tourist attractive Romdane between Gudbrands-dalen and Dovre
Vall and Vesterålen with its colourful midnight sun in the month of
moonshine, one painting rightfully awarded with a prize and others.
Among the best of the colection without doubt is the one called
“Fred” (Peace) – with strong contrast effect when the look is moved
from the breakers and foam of the waves to the paintings at the
side. A complete success for the Norwegian painter, who can be
happy about his ability to give good expressions for his drawing
technique and colour music”. (G) (STVV Oct. 1945)
Oscar E. Gustafson had exhibitions in Sweden, among others in
Säffle, Grums, Arvika, Karlstad, Åmål and Göteborg The
exposition at Hotell Royal in Göteborg opened on 27 october 1947