Artists - Part 32

 Gustav Vigeland

Gustav Vigeland (1869-1943), above, was a Norwegian sculptor.  

You can get some idea of how highly he is regarded in Norway by looking at the tail of this Norwegian Air plane.

In 1921, the city of Oslo wanted to demolish Vigeland's house to build a library.  In compensation, the city gave Vigeland a new building as a house and studio, and Vigeland promised to donate to the city all his subsequent works of art.

Vigeland now lived next to Frogner Park, and his sculptures began to be installed in the park, starting with this fountain in 1924.

More sculptures were installed in the park.  They depicted men, women, and children, and all were nude.

To me, this sculpture looks like: "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

The area of the park devoted to Vigeland's sculptures expanded to include a feature called The Bridge, lined with sculptures.  Vigeland's sculptures are full of life, like this one of an older man about to strike a younger one.

And this sculpture of a man playfully lifting and swinging a child around.

This one is pure fantasy.  It's called Man Attacked by Babies.

Someone liked Man Attacked by Babies so much that he got it tattooed on his chest.

Vigeland's works extended still further in the park, culminating with a large structure of steps leading up to The Monolith, a huge pillar of naked men, women and children carved out of a single block of Norwegian granite.

On the steps surrounding The Monolith are more sculptures of men, women and children.

And the steps have cast-iron gates designed by Vigeland depicting more naked figures.

More cast-iron work surrounding The Monolith.

There are many more Vigeland works in the park – over 200 in all – so that this section of the park has become known as Vigeland Park.

But we will end today with another legacy of Vigeland.  Vigeland won a competition in 1901 to design the gold medal for the Nobel Peace Prize.  The front has an image of Alfred Nobel.  The back, above, features three naked men linking arms, with the Latin words Pro pace et fraternitate gentium (For peace and brotherhood of nations).