The art of Scandinavia shares many characteristics of the Scandinavian landscape: hardness, sharpness, clarity. In the first of three episodes, Andrew Graham -Dixon explores works to come out of the dark Norwegian soul, most famous for producing The Scream by Edvard Munch. He explores the history of Norway through its most influential artworks, and the story that these pieces tell about Norwegian society and attitudes: from Norse mythology, to early Christianity and Lutheranism, to the Romantic Nationalists. Dramatic landscapes and extreme hardship have provided inspiration for artists and philosophers, including Peder Balke, Lars Hertervig, Søren Kierkegaard, Henrik Ibsen, and Munch.
