Who painted Lille Geysir på Island?

Lille Geysir på Island was painted by Unknown in 1836.

Where can I see Lille Geysir på Island?

Lille Geysir på Island is held by Statens Museum for Kunst.

What movement is Lille Geysir på Island?

Lille Geysir på Island is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Lille Geysir på Island

Unknown , 1836

Lille Geysir på Island is a photography by the Romanticist artist Unknown. It dates from 1836 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.

About this work

To the right, a lone figure sits on a rock by the water, while in the distance, two riders on horseback approach.

This image shows a group of people standing near a tall, misty waterfall in a rocky landscape. To the right, a lone figure sits on a rock by the water, while in the distance, two riders on horseback approach. The scene looks wild and dramatic, with mountains rising in the background.

This is one of the earliest photographs of a geyser, taken in 1836. The mist and movement in the water give it a dreamy, almost ghostly feel.

Next, check out the Romanticism movement to see how artists used nature to express emotion.

Overview

Lille Geysir på Island is an early photographic image produced in 1836 by the artist recorded as 35588_person. The picture is part of the collection of the Museum of Ethnography and represents one of the first visual records of a geyser in Iceland.

Subject & Meaning

The composition captures a mist‑filled waterfall set within a rugged, rocky terrain. A solitary figure rests on a rock beside the water, while a small group stands nearby and two horsemen approach in the distance, suggesting human interaction with a dramatic natural environment.

Technique & Style

Created with the photographic processes available in the 1830s, the image displays a soft focus and ethereal quality, emphasizing the vapor and motion of the water. The resulting atmosphere conveys a sense of mystery and transience characteristic of early landscape photography.

History & Provenance

The photograph was taken in 1836, placing it among the earliest documented images of Icelandic geothermal activity. It has remained in institutional care and is currently housed in the Museum of Ethnography, where it contributes to the museum’s documentation of 19th‑century visual culture.