Two extraordinary artists from Stavanger
Kitty Kielland (1843–1914) and Frida Hansen (1855–1931) lived extraordinary lives. They innovated in each their own field of art, exhibited frequently, distinguished themselves as authors in the public sphere, and worked in several arenas on behalf of artistic freedom and women’s rights. Both artists drew inspiration from the landscape and flora of Jæren and Ryfylke and developed their artistic practice in accordance with Norwegian and international artistic currents. They participated in many of the same exhibitions, for instance in the World Expositions in Chicago and Paris. Here at home, Hansen exhibited in Stavanger Museum while Kielland exhibited in Stavanger Art Society’s premises, which from 1893 to 1915 were located in the museum’s building on Kannikhøyden.
The starting point for Fra røttene / From the Roots is Kielland’s and Hansen’s shared affiliation with Stavanger. The two artists were raised in the same milieu and were almost neighbours for many years. They painted together before Hansen married, with Kielland offering instruction. In 1872 Kielland moved to Karlsruhe to study landscape painting, then to Munich and eventually to Paris, but was often in Stavanger. Here she exhibition at the art society and became involved in the women’s reading association. Hansen too was a member of these institutions for art and culture. She grew flowers and created an impressive garden at the Køhler house in Stavanger. A severe economic downturn in 1883 resulted in bankruptcy for the Hansen family and the city’s other international merchants. Hansen moved from the Køhler house to a smaller dwelling in Old Stavanger and there started her career: first with embroidery, then with natural dyeing and tapestry.
Hansen established Norway’s first plant-based dyeworks in Stavanger in 1889. In 1892 she opened her weaving studio in Oslo, hired several employees and produce floor carpets, tapestries, cushion covers, tablecloths and upholstery fabric. Kielland, in 1884, was a co-founder of the Norwegian Association for Women’s Rights. She was also on the advisory board for an exhibition in the Woman’s Building at the World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, where Hansen exhibited the tapestry Løvetann (Dandelion). Together with Randi Blehr, Hansen established the weaving company Norsk Aaklæde- og Billedtæppe-Væveri, with Kielland and her artist-colleague Harriet Backer as two of the shareholders. Both Hansen and Kielland settled permanently in Oslo but continued to travel extensively to countries such as France, England, Italy and Denmark.
Fra røttene / From the Roots presents artworks that relate to themes such as the artistic process, views of nature, identity, the artist’s home, women’s rights, and women’s participation in the public sphere in the years leading up to and after 1900. With several loaned works and works from the museum’s own collection, the exhibition marks Stavanger’s 900th anniversary in 2025.