Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914)

 Skogstroll, 1890

The Ash Lad beheads the Troll, 1900

The Water Troll Who Eats Only Young Girls, 1881

Troldskab, 1892

Forest Troll, 1906

The Ash Lad and the Wolf, 1900

Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892

Trolløye, 1891

The Monster of the Lake, 1904

Postkort

Illustration for "Troldskab " Christiania, 1892

The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1900

The Ash Lad and the Troll , 1910

Söormen in Aalesund, 1870

The Svælg waterfall, 1907

The Waterfall, 1907

The Dam at Lake Klouman, 1908

Groundwork, 1907

Vintereventyr

The Ash Lad and the Dragon, 1900

Grain Restorer in Moonlight, 1900

Tussebryllup

Askeladdens Adventure, 1900

Far, far away Soria Moria Palace shimmered like Gold, 1900

Princess Collecting Cotton

Gold Horn, 1910

Smørbokk

The Forest Troll , 1892

Sea Monster, 1881

"Now I put Button hole in your pants for Christmas "Illustrasjon to " Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891

She covers the whole country, 1904

Illustration of the Black Death (She rushes around the country.), 1900

Illustration of the Black Death, "Mother there comes a bitch." 1900

Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta drar), 1900

Illustration of the Black Death (Autumn Evening), 1900

Illustration of the Black Death (She wanders around the country.), 1900

Illustration of the Black Death (Pesta Comes), 1900

Illustration of the Black Death (Plague on the stairs), 1900

TIllustration of the Black Death, Mouse Town, 1900

Nokken Screams

At Night They Carried the Dead Away, 1901

On the way to the feast in Troll Castle, 1892

"Soul settle for , a , drink and be merry." 1876-87

Guri With Soup Snout

llustration for " World pays no different " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

A Jutulhogget match, Illustration for "Troldskab" 1892

" Uff ! " shouted Farmer VærskjeggTil ' Farmer Veirskjæg " , P. Chr. Asbjornsen og J. Moe, Eventyrbog 's born . Norske Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Little Fred and the Giant Beggar

Troldkjærringer, 1902

Trollkjerring, 1907

Theodor Kittelsen - " Is not Butterball at home today ? " troll saidTo " Smørbuk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen, 1883

" It will be a big , long haugkjerring with hodet forearm ... "Ubenyttet illustrasjon til " Smørbukk " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , Eventyrbog 's born I Gyldendalske Boghandels publishers, Kjøbenhavn, 1883

The old Hag with Her Head under Her Arm ("Butterball") 1883

"Hau, hau , it would troll be blind buck anymore! " roared the troll. Illustration for " Røderev and Ashlad " P.Chr . Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales , I. Collection . Christiania and Copenhagen in 1907

"Milgen, malgen Komlekion", 1891

Preparatory work for " Bonde Veirskjegg " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

llustration for " Bonde Veirskjæg " in P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1887

Trading Children, 1887

Troll and troll cubs with man who reaches for gun

"Stop , dad , it's not such abruptness , " said skipperIllustration for " The skipper and the devil " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen , illustrated adventure . Udvalgte folktales . I. Collection , Oslo and Copenhagen in 1907

Fra "Har Dyrene Sjæl", 1893

Tussefolk, 1908

The Ship "Albatros" in Storm. (The Mermaid Rock) 1892

"Shoot no ," cried his wife," it's me "Illustration for " Somme Kjær Rings ere SLIG " , P. Chr. Asbjørnsen and J. Moe, Eventyrbog for Børn . Norwegian Folkeeventyr , Copenhagen 1883

Battle of Kjøbenhavns Red, Illustration to "Truthful tales and so forth . Told av Mathias Skeibrok" 1891

A Family Drama, 1880

The Seven SistersVariant of illustration From Lofoten II , 1891

"Kittelsen was born in the coastal town of Kragerø in Telemark county, Norway. His father died at an early age, leaving a wife and eight children in difficult circumstances. Theodor was only 11 years old when he was apprenticed to a watchmaker. When at the age of 17 his talent was discovered by Diderich Maria Aall, he became a pupil at Wilhelm von Hanno’s drawing school in Christiania (now Oslo). Because of generous financial support by Aall he later studied in Munich. However, in 1879 Diderich Aall could no longer manage to support him, so Kittelsen had to earn his money as a draftsman for German newspapers and magazines.

In 1882 Kittelsen was granted a state scholarship to study in Paris. In 1887 he returned to Norway for good. When back in Norway, he found nature to be a great inspiration. He spent the next two years in Lofoten where he lived with his sister and brother-in-law at Skomvær Lighthouse. Kittelsen also started to write texts to his drawings here.

Theodor Kittelsen and his family settled in a home and artist studio which he called Lauvlia near Prestfoss during 1899. Kittelsen spent his best artistic years here. During this period, Kittelsen was hired to illustrate Norwegian Folktales (Norwegian: Norske Folkeeventyr) by the Norwegian folklore collector Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe. In 1908 he was made Knight of the The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav. However, he was forced to sell and leave Lauvlia in 1910 as his health began to fail. He was granted an artist’s stipend in 1911 but died a broken man in 1914." - quote source

More of Kittelsen's artworks were previously shared here.

Image sources include Telemarksgalleriet and Lysbuen, Digital Museum and Wikimedia Commons.