I decided very early that the theme of my dissertation had to be based around printmaking, preferably woodcut. Since woodcut
was a relatively newfound interest of mine back in 2019, I had not yet developed a large theoretical knowledge around the subject.
For instance, I was interested in the history of printmaking in Norway but knew little about it. Therefore it felt natural to start my initial research reading about the pioneers of Norwegian printmaking, which I commenced after the end of 3rd year.
We had already been asked to plan out roughly what our subject was going to evolve around and I knew the sooner I could start the research the more it would benefit the writing of the piece.
One of the printmakers I read about in my early search was Nikolai Astrup – a well-known Norwegian artist whose body of work might be best represented by his motifs of blazing and fiery midsummer bonfires. I've been wanting to visit the rural croft in Jølster where he lived and worked for a long time, and now seemed the perfect time to plan a research trip to Sandalstrand.
The dissertation's preface (images below) might be the best proof
of the outcome of this trip.
was a relatively newfound interest of mine back in 2019, I had not yet developed a large theoretical knowledge around the subject.
For instance, I was interested in the history of printmaking in Norway but knew little about it. Therefore it felt natural to start my initial research reading about the pioneers of Norwegian printmaking, which I commenced after the end of 3rd year.
We had already been asked to plan out roughly what our subject was going to evolve around and I knew the sooner I could start the research the more it would benefit the writing of the piece.
One of the printmakers I read about in my early search was Nikolai Astrup – a well-known Norwegian artist whose body of work might be best represented by his motifs of blazing and fiery midsummer bonfires. I've been wanting to visit the rural croft in Jølster where he lived and worked for a long time, and now seemed the perfect time to plan a research trip to Sandalstrand.
The dissertation's preface (images below) might be the best proof
of the outcome of this trip.
Below are images of the process of creating the hard copy – the printed and hand-bound version of my dissertation. I had never hand-bound anything before and I must admit it felt slightly intimidating to debut this technique on such an important piece of work as this written piece came to be. I thoroughly enjoyed it though, not just the process of binding together pages and words – but also what they represented – the knowledge I had gained through being present on the croft where Engel and Nikolai lived, talked to their relatives and descendants
and carefully studies their art. Their shared lives.
and carefully studies their art. Their shared lives.
