Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1878-03-13)March 13, 1878 Tullstorp,Sweden |
| Died | April 21, 1955(1955-04-21) (aged 77) Henderson, Texas, United States |
| Education | Art Institute of Chicago |
Bror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt (April 13, 1878 – April 21, 1955) was an American artist who painted seascapes and depictions of New Mexico's indigenous culture.
He was born in Tullstorp,Malmö,Skåne County,Sweden the son of Nils and Ingrid (Nordfeldt) Olsson. The family immigrated to theUnited States in 1892. He first worked as a typesetter for theSwedish language newspaper,Det Rätta Hemlandet. He attended theArt Institute of Chicago and studied withFrederick Richardson. He later apprenticed withAlbert Herter inNew York City, and studied inParis at theAcadémie Julian. For several years he worked as an illustrator in Europe and North Africa forHarper's Magazine, where he also practiced etching.[1] He adopted his mother's surname to avoid confusion with themaritime artist(Alfred) Julius Olsson, whose work was then becoming popular in Europe and America.
DuringWorld War I he was inSan Francisco where he registered for the draft. During the war, Nordfeldt was assigned to San Francisco to supervise the camouflage of merchant ships. After his service in World War I, he went toSanta Fe, New Mexico upon the suggestion ofWilliam Penhallow Henderson and ended up moving there.[2] Norfeldt was an early member of theProvincetown Printers art colony in Massachusetts.[3] In 1921, Nordfeldt was elected an associate member of theTaos Society of Artists.[4] He exhibited his work frequently with theChicago Society of Etchers both before and after the war, showing between 1911-1918 and 1926–1929.[1] In 1940 he relocated toLambertville, New Jersey.[5]
Throughout the 1930s, Nordfeldt taught at various schools includingUtah State College, the Wichita Art Association and theMinneapolis School of Art. From 1941 to 1943, he was a guest professor for the Department of Art of theUniversity of Texas.[6]
Nordfeldt worked in diverse styles and media, including etchings and prints, portraiture, still lifes, and landscapes. Nordfeldt strove for a flattening of form and distortion of space, creating stylized images. He chose subjects laden with emotional power, especially nature and religious scenes.
Nordfeldt exhibited in numerous museums and galleries and received many significant awards and prizes in the course of his career. His works are held in theArt Institute of Chicago, theHirshhorn Museum, theNew York Public Library,New Mexico Museum of Art,Metropolitan Museum of Art,Newberry Library,Two Red Roses Foundation, and theWeisman Art Museum, as well as many other venues. Biographical sketches for Nordfeldt are published in most standard art reference works. His papers are held in the Manuscript Collections of theArchives of American Art.
Nordfelt was first married to Dr. Margaret Doolittle in 1910. They divorced in 1944. His second marriage was to fellow artist Emily L. Abbott in 1944 inNew Jersey.[7]
He died inHenderson, Texas on April 21, 1955.[6]
Media related toBror Julius Olsson Nordfeldt at Wikimedia Commons
