Halvor Nylund, born in the 1870's was a Norwegian politician and apparently somewhat of a character. He once showed up for dinner at the king's table wearing his suit and one black shoe and a brown shoe. Another guest, an actor from the National Theater, told him, "you are a very colorful character". Anyway, this man, Halvor was a good friend of Edvard Munch. His nephew where we are staying was telling us stories about them. Apparently Edvard Munch was so intense that no one could stand to spend much time with him. Other artists like Henrik Sørensen, who were his contemporaries couldn't take more that 10 minutes with Munch. So Halvor became one of his closest friends. He tried to convince Munch to try and sell his paintings, but Edvard didn't think they were worth much. He would give his paintings away as barter payment for expenses he'd incurred, and people would hang them up in their outhouses is what we've been told.
I don't know how much "The Scream" is worth now, but it's been stolen at least once from the Munch Museum
But that's the way it goes when an artist dies the demand for their work increases, but then there is no supply. I suppose that's a very logical reason for artists being posthumously recognized.
2 comments:
i've got to admit i've never taken that economic theoretically astute position regarding the dead artists we now call famous. maybe i will keep painting despite all protests to the contrary..they might buy my kids' college education some day....
that sounds like Bucky Kat talking to John or Satchel!
nice avitar by the way
Post a Comment