Rosemaling in Hardanger by Sverre Strandenes

Guttorm A. Rogdaberg, local historian from Hardanger, describes the book:

"In the chests, the ancestors hid their dearest treasures. You could hardly come closer to the heart. If a decorative painter passed by, these storing objects were adorned with the most beautiful colors and roses they could afford. A fairytale of colorful and confident brushstrokes with scrolls, flowers, buds, and leaves. The owner’s name and year, elegantly inscribed on the front. Perhaps even some figures and floral scrolls hidden under the lid. Work without a signature. Folk art of the highest quality.

Who were these rural artists who gave us all this beautiful decoration? Some we have known, but most have been forgotten or left somewhere deep in the unknown shadows. With this book by Sverre Strandenes, we are introduced to both the artists and the stories behind them. Through thorough research, we learn about styles, influences, stories, and the travel routes of these often wandering painters. A book full of colorful, enlightening photos taken by the author himself. A beautiful book that documents and provides a useful and detailed overview of this folk art, but which will also help increase the value and understanding of these heirlooms into the future."