Viking Magazine - July 2021 - 29

" One of the things that make
his paintings have a lasting
impression on people is the
detail, especially in his genre
paintings done in Setesdal. "
-LAURANN GILBERTSON,
CHIEF CURATOR, VESTERHEIM
exhibitions and by raising money for American
and Norwegian causes. Later in Blessum's life,
the Chicago Norske Klub would host exhibitions
of his works in 1921 and a one-man show
featuring 80 of his oil paintings in 1945. The club
is no longer active, and the building was sold
to Bjørnstjerne
Bjørnson Lodge
5-097 of Sons of
Norway who met
there for 17 years.
The building is
now a multi-unit
condo building,
but still features
Viking ship detail
under the eaves.
His editorial
work extended
into various
publications in
Norway and
in 1903, he
traveled to Europe and visited his home country
for the first time since moving to the United
States. As these visits increased, Blessum created
more sketches, paintings and drawings of the
Norwegian landscape.
From their clothing
to expressions,
Blessum painted
people in amazing
detail. This oil on
canvas is called
" Bride of Setesdal. "
The Land of the Vikings Makes Its Mark
During a trip to Norway in 1913, Blessum
was commissioned for " The Emigrant " at the
Norwegian Centennial Exposition in Oslo. Over
the years, his landscape paintings and work
for Norwegian companies in the United States
continued, and in 1923, he moved to New York to
work for Norwegian State Railways, as they were
ambitious to make an impression on the western
hemisphere and promote tourism.
" One of the things that make his paintings
have a lasting impression on people is the detail,
especially in his genre paintings done in Setesdal.
These scenes of everyday life have amazing
details, " says Laurann Gilbertson, chief curator
at the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum.
" You could look for hours at them all, from
the architecture of the building, the furnishings
of the house, the clothing people are wearing,
and even the expressions and lines on faces.
His illustrations and graphic designs, too, have
amazing detail. "
This is also evident in two of his paintings for
Norwegian State Railways: " See the Lands of the
Vikings " and " The Land of the Midnight Sun. "
Both works are considered classics and can still
be found replicated on postcards today. " See the
Lands of the Vikings " is bold in its own way, as it
displays several Nordic countries united together,
with Norway standing alongside Sweden, Finland,
Denmark and even the United States. " The Land
of the Midnight Sun, " on the other hand, pays
homage to the parts of Norway above the Arctic
Circle, which is a popular destination for marine
animal sightseeing in the summertime due to its
warmer weather and 24-hour sunshine.
Blessum's work, whether art or one of the
many organizations he participated in, did not go
unnoticed by the Norwegian government. Among
his myriad accolades and awards that he received
was the Order of the Knight of St. Olav, First
Class, from King Haakon himself for his services
to Norway.
Blessum's Legacy Lives On
" What lessons can we learn from Ben's legacy? "
Rudin asks. " To paraphrase an old saying: 'You
can take the man out of Norway, but you can't
take Norway out of the man.' I think Ben saw
the opportunity to combine his talents and his
Norwegian heritage to create a lasting legacy. "
Today, more than 60 artworks by Blessum are
on display at Vesterheim, while other paintings of
his reside at the Smithsonian Institution, The Fine
Arts Collection and Luther College. A favorite
amongst his family members today is " Norwegian
Girl, " which his daughter Dagny modeled for.
" I am pleased to be the grandson of a talented
man who left a legacy of artwork and publications
depicting events in his life and the beauty of his
native country. Even after emigrating to the United
States, he maintained strong ties to his roots in
Norway and created a bridge between his new
country and his birth country, " Rudin says.
" I have collected pictures of Ben's artwork
to share with family members and, especially,
the newer generations to help them better
understand their ancestry and take pride in their
accomplishments. "
sonsofnorway.com VIKING JULY 2021 29
VESTERHEIM NORWEGIAN-AMERICAN MUSEUM, DECORAH, IOWA
http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - July 2021

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Viking Magazine - July 2021
