Harriet Backer Enter a
feeling, not
a gallery.
Choose a mood and the room itself answers — the light cools or warms, the air changes pace, and only the works that carry that feeling step forward from the dark. Everything else recedes into shadow.
Harriet Backer
A Pioneer of Nordic Light: The Life and Art of Harriet Backer Harriet Backer, born in the tranquil Norwegian village of Høm in 1845, emerged as a pivotal figure in late 19th and early 20th-century art. Her journey from a young girl sketching alongside her family to becoming Norway’s most celebrated female painter is a testament to her unwavering dedication and artistic vision. Backer's life unfolded during a period of significant socia
l change, particularly concerning the role of women in society, and she navigated this evolving landscape with both grace and determination. The daughter of a shipping merchant and a woman from a prosperous family, Backer received an upbringing that fostered intellectual curiosity alongside traditional values. A move to Christiania (present-day Oslo) in 1856 provided access to educational opportunities, including attendance at the Wilh…
