(1848 - 1918)

Eilert Adelsteen Normann (1 May 1848–26 December 1918) was a Norwegian painter. He was educated in Düsseldorf, Germany, and settled there. During the summer he traveled around Northern Norway and made sketches. He specialized in romantic fjord landscapes, often with a small steamboat or sailboat on a mirror-like sea. Normann was the first from Northern Norway to establish himself as a painter.

Normann was the son of a farmer and merchant on Vågøya in Bodin. After working as a journeyman for merchant Koch in Bodø, he traveled to Bergen and later Copenhagen to learn the trade. During his studies in Copenhagen, his interest in art took over. From 1869 to 1873, he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Düsseldorf, where he was greatly influenced by the tradition of his compatriot Hans Gude. He thus became a typical late Düsseldorfer. Normann also found a spouse and permanent address in the Rhine city, at a time when other Norwegian painters were seeking Paris.

With his background from Nordland, Normann specialized in Norwegian fjord landscapes. He found motifs especially in Lofoten and Northern Norway, as well as around the Sognefjord. On his study trips in Norway, he made sketches that he used to compose large-format landscape paintings. His fjord motifs are often characterized by steep mountains over sunny fjords and sea. Light played a major role in Normann's paintings; he was one of the first Norwegian painters to use the midnight sun as a motif. He is said to be the originator of the term "land of the midnight sun". His paintings became very popular with the German art public.

No information about the artist.

(1877-1954) 

Blessum was born in Marstein in Romsdal. He was a painter and tourist.
He lived most of his life in the United States, where he headed the Norwegian State Railways' travel office in New York from 1923 to 1936.

(1877-1954)

Blessum was born in Marstein in Romsdal. He was a painter and tourist.
He lived most of his life in the United States, where he headed the Norwegian State Railways' travel office in New York from 1923 to 1936.

(1825-1903)

The first time Gude was in Balestrand was in 1845. Together with Tiedemann he created "Bride's Journey in Hardanger" and "The Funeral Procession at the Sognefjord". Gude painted landscapes, while Tiedeman painted the figures. In 1849, Gude was commissioned by Oscar to help decorate Oscarshall in Oslo. Many of the paintings there have motifs taken from Balestrand and Sogn. He died in Berlin.

( - 1887)

Müller was born in Eiker in Buskerud. From 1855 to 1857 he was a student of Hans Gude. He painted several pictures from Balholmen, and these have great local historical value. He died in Düsseldorf.

( - 1887) 

Müller was born in Eiker in Buskerud. From 1855 to 1857 he was a student of Hans Gude. He painted several pictures from Balholmen, and these have great local historical value. He died in Düsseldorf.

(1881 - 1961)

Ivar Hansson Høyvik (1881-1961) from Gulen, lived in Balestrand. Cabinetmaker and woodcarver.

Trained as an apprentice with Magnus Dagestad at Voss School of Arts and Crafts. Came to Balestrand in 1905 with his wife Eli, who was an art weaver. He has decorated several of the villas in Balestrand with wood carvings in the dragon style.

Høyvik is best known as the master craftsman behind the carvings and furniture in the "Høyvik Hall". The entire hall is furnished by Høyvik, with tables, chairs, portals and mirror frames in the dragon style.