El Greco And Nordic Modernism

How painters such as Edvard Munch and Helene Schjerfbeck revived and adapted El Greco's expressionism in the Nordic countries During the late 19th century, artists across Europe rediscovered the almost three-centuries-old art of the Greek painter El Greco (1541-1614). His characteristic rapturous style resonated with the new generation of Nordic artists, who were adopting their own forms of expressionism. El Greco's ascension as a cult figure, however, can be attributed as much to his life story as to his work: the young artists heralded El Greco as an outsider idol for the relentless rejection he encountered during his lifetime. This catalog traces the influence of El Greco on the work of Nordic artists such as Edvard Munch, Helene Schjerfbeck, Nils Dardel, Harald Giersing and Jens Ferdinand Willumsen. The Nordic reception of El Greco in the decades between 1885 and 1945 has never previously been explored; by doing so, the book adds a key piece to the mosaic that is the artist's multinational legacy.