Northern Lights - The Forest in modernist art. The major catalogue accompanying the exhibition of the Fondation Beyeler, Riehen / Basel and the Buffalo AKG Art Museum, Buffalo/New York

The Forest in modernist art

The allure of the North remains unbroken: endless coniferous forests on the edge of the Arctic Polar Region, radiant “white” summer nights, long and silent winters with deep snow, and the magical Northern Lights have inspired artists for generations. The Fondation Beyeler dedicates an impressive exhibition to this unique natural and cultural phenomenon, showcasing landscape paintings from the late 19th and early 20th centuries from Scandinavia, Finland, and Canada.

The catalogue presents works by world-renowned artists such as Edvard Munch, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, and Hilma af Klint. At the same time, it introduces works by lesser-known artists whose creations have so far received little attention in Central Europe, including Harald Sohlberg, Gustav Fjaestad, Emily Carr, Tom Thomson, and Prince Eugen of Sweden. This selection is further enriched by significant works from Ivan Shishkin, Anna Boberg, Helmi Biese, Lawren Harris, and J. E. H. Macdonald.

This catalogue offers a fascinating insight into Nordic landscape painting and invites readers to discover the magical imagery of the North.