Tonight it became clear. One of Theodor Kittelsen’s most famous motifs “Kvitebjørn King Valemon” is sold for 36 million to a currently unknown buyer. It is a new record for a work sold at a Norwegian auction house. The old record of NOK 14 million was for “Andersnatten”, which is also a Kittelsen motif. That record was broken tonight. The extent to which the public can see the image is now up to the buyer. – It would be tragic if the work were to adorn some basement room so that others could not enjoy it, says the parliamentary representative in Rødt, Hege Bae Nyholt. Storting representative for Rødt, Hege Bae Nyholt, believes we should have a discussion about how Norwegian cultural heritage can become accessible to everyone. Photo: Eirik Pessl-Kleiven / news – Part of Norwegian identity You may have seen the picture or heard the story about “Kvitebjørn King Valemon”. – It is part of Norwegian consciousness and identity, says auctioneer Hans Richard Elgheim to news. Auctioneer Hans Richard Elgheim was responsible for the auction. He believes that the work is an important part of Norway’s cultural heritage, and said that there has been a lot of interest around and for the image. Photo: Heiko Junge / SCANPIX “Kvitebjørn King Valemon” “Kvitebjørn King Valemon” is a fairy tale from Asbjørnsen and Moe and one of many fairy tales illustrated by Theodor Kittelsen (1857-1914). “Valemon” is a king who has been bewitched into a white bear by a witch, as punishment for his refusal to marry her. If no one is allowed to see him in human form within seven years, the spell will be broken. However, if someone sees him as a human, he must marry the witch. Kittelsen was a fairy-tale illustrator for Asbjørnsen and Moe for 29 years, and many of his characters, such as Smørbukk, Askeladden and Kvitebjørn King Valemon, and not least the trolls, are closely linked to our ideas about the Norwegian fairy-tale world. The work is signed and dated 1912. Source: SNL, Wikipedia, Grev Wedels Plass Auksjoner The popular artist Theodor Severin Kittelsen (1857–1914) has become known for depicting the mysterious Norwegian forest – often using imagination. He has also put pictures on Asbjørnsen and Moe’s folktales. “The painting is part of a fairly small collection of artworks and illustrations that have made us imagine the Norwegian folk tales the way we do”, writes cultural commentator at news, Inger Merete Hobbelstad, in a comment today. Believes the work should be publicly owned The National Museum is Norway’s largest public museum. They have a particular responsibility for managing and making Norwegian cultural heritage available. The National Museum tells news that they would like to have the work, but that they could not afford to bid on the painting. They have nevertheless had the power to place an export ban on the picture, meaning that the painting stays within the country’s borders. There are several Kittelsen motifs in the Adventure Room at the National Museum. The National Museum tells news that they want the picture, but that they cannot afford to join the auction. Photo: Hallgeir Aunan / news Bae Nyholt in Rødt thinks we should have a discussion about how Norwegian cultural heritage is accessible to everyone. – We believe that this is important for the public and should be publicly owned. It is a problem that something that should have been owned by the community becomes an expensive investment object for private individuals, she says. – The institutions do not need to own even the National Museum has an annual purchasing budget of NOK 12.8 million. Minister for Culture and Equality, Lubna Jaffery, states to news that this is what they have to deal with today. – I have my discussions in accordance with the budget with the National Museum, and I will continue with that, she says. – Is it true that we as a nation cannot afford to buy back our own cultural treasures? – We have a good tradition in Norway of many iconic works being lent by private owners. The institutions do not have to own them themselves. We have a good supply of lots of great art in Norwegian museums, she says. Minister for Culture and Gender Equality Lubna Jaffery believes that the institutions do not need to own national treasures themselves and there is a good tradition of renting. Photo: Leif Rune Løland Auctioneer Elgheim, is not anxious that the painting will never be seen again. – It turns out that owners of significant art understand that it is a kind of obligation to lend out every now and then, he says. What do you think? Using such sums on a national tax is the wrong prioritization of money We should use such sums to ensure that national taxes are available to the public Show result Published 27/11/2024, at 19.13 Updated 27.11.2024, at 19.19
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Kvitebjørn King Valemon by Theodor Kittelsen set a superior new Norwegian price record – news Buskerud – Local news, TV and radio
