Growth of the Soil

  • Our exhibition at the Hamsun Centre marked the centenary of Knut Hamsun’s 1920 Nobel Prize in Literature for Growth of the Soil.

    The Norwegian Embassy in Berlin further supported the project by hosting an event in our Berlin studio.

Perhaps one can call it a gospel to the words. Telling the story of Isak, his firstborn child Eleseus, and his second named Sivert, but who should have been named Jacob.

A book Hitler praised when he met Hamsun — surely unaware of Isak's roots.

Biblical Isaac. Also started with little and subdued the earth. Son of Abraham, father of Esau and Jacob.

And Inger…
just like Hamsun,
did the unthinkable.

Portrait of Knut Hamsun

Accepting the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1920 for the hard work of Isak and Inger.

Portrait of Isak Sellanrå

Hamsun building Sellanrå with Nobel, socks, and hen.

Knut · Inger · Marie · Goebbels

4 x 110 x 150 cm
Pastel on canvas

Portrait of Knut Hamsun

Standing alone as Nagel

Portrait of Marie Hamsun

An early love letter from Knut Hamsun covers Marie’s face.

Portrait of Inger Sellanrå

Wife to Isak. Hunted by the harelip.

Portrait of Joseph Goebbels

Holding the Nobel medal for Growth of the Soil that Hamsun gifted him in 1943.

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