Portrait of the Painter Oda Krohg

Christian Krohg painted this first portrait of Oda Krohg (née Lasson) in 1885, three years before the later version also in the National Museum. The two portraits together document the evolution of a personal and artistic relationship that became central to his life and work. In 1885, Oda Lasson was a young painter beginning to move in the progressive Norwegian artistic circles where Krohg was already an established figure. This earlier portrait may reflect a more tentative acquaintance than the 1888 version, and comparing the two offers insight into how Krohg's approach to the same sitter developed over time.

The 1885 portrait is rendered with Krohg's direct, naturalist approach — careful observation of the face and figure, confident if somewhat rough handling, and a restrained palette that emphasizes tonal relationships over color. The handling compares interestingly with the 1888 version, suggesting a more settled confidence in the later work.