What is it With Trolls and Norway?

When clouds cover the sun, then mountains, trees and rocks turn into dark threatening shadows, so even the snow hides in the darkness.
Waterfalls and wild rivers orchestrate their own strangely bizarre music and the wind howls its contribution as for chasing a fear in the lonely wanderer.
Monstrous, deformed trees suddenly look like creatures from another world.
No wonder that people thought there were trolls in this incredible universe that Norway’s mountain world poses.
The paintings I have found here reveal the powerful effect that nature has had on the artists.

The Labro Falls at Kongsberg
Norwegian romantic painter Thomas Fearnley
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And here I met trolls. Maybe it was the river that sang like that in my ears. Maybe it was the stars that were so high up there. Maybe the feeling of loneliness in here. Maybe this weird mix of wildness and peace. Or maybe it was quite simply the change of weather that quickly crept inwards on the morning twig?

At least they came that night. It was a whole bunch of trolls. Big and heavy they rose to meet over the ridge, thick and round they rolled down from the peaks, small and shabby they emerge from the heather. They climbed awkwardly on grey stones and ravens, nodded slowly to each other, shook their hams and mumbled into the air.

They did not pay attention to me … * Kari Heftye Skollerud Journalist

Landscape with a River
Norwegian painter Hans Leganger Reusch
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Snowfield
Norwegian painter Johan Fredrik Eckersberg
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Anyone who has once crossed the grey mountains of Trollheimen and wandered in the lush, wooded valleys between them, listened to the restless journey of the rivers between snow-glaciers and the sea and picked the berries of late summer, will always long to return…
Trollheimen, is a mountain adventure, a mountain home that is able to enchant those who seek fresh strength in the simple life of walking.
* Karl H. Brox Journalist and author

Nordic Landscape with Trolltindene
Norwegian painter and professor Johan Christian Dahl
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Leave Nothing But Your Footprint ❤ Happy Walk