Artwork
Autumn on the Nidelv
Autumn on the Nidelv is a watercolor work on paper by the Impressionist artist Harald Krogh Stabell. It dates from 1918 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Harald Krogh Stabell’s watercolour, dated 1918, captures an autumnal view of the Nidelv river. The composition centers on a modest settlement perched beside the water, its simple structures rendered in muted tones. The scene is signed by the artist, confirming its authorship and placing it within his early twentieth‑century output.
Subject & Meaning
The work portrays a quiet riverside town in late fall, where leafless trees line the banks and the water lies still. The subdued palette of browns, greens and blues conveys the seasonal transition, while the occasional bright accents hint at lingering vitality amid the waning light.
Technique & Style
Stabell employs fluid, rapid brushstrokes that give the painting a sense of immediacy. Areas of wet wash blend softly, creating atmospheric depth, whereas sharper edges preserve detail in the architecture and foliage. The overall handling of pigment emphasizes the fleeting quality of light and weather typical of watercolour practice.
History & Provenance
Created in 1918, the piece reflects Stabell’s engagement with Norwegian landscapes during the post‑World War I period. The signed work has remained within the artist’s documented oeuvre, providing a reference point for his broader exploration of regional scenery in the early twentieth century.
Artist & collection
Artist
Harald Krogh Stabell kept a studio above a bakery in Trondheim, where the smell of cinnamon rolls drifted up while he painted.
