Andreas Bloch

Andreas Bloch was born on the Hellerud farm in Skedsmo, in Akershus county, Norway, as the son of Jens Peter Blankenborg Bloch, an officer and a draughtsman, and Anne Julie Margrethe Schroeter. He received his first art education at Knud Bergslien's art school in Kristiania (now Oslo) in 1878-79, and then studied at the Art Academy of Düsseldorf under Johann Peter Theodor Janssen from 1880 to 1881. He also made study tours to Belgium, Paris and Leipzig. Bloch is remembered primarily for his drawings. He delivered illustrations to the satirical magazines Vikingen, Krydseren and Korsaren, illustrated numerous books, and designed costumes for Christiania Theater and Nationaltheatret. He also painted some historical subjects, such as the coronation of King Haakon VII of Norway and Queen Maud in Nidaros Cathedral in 1906. He also designed posters and theatrical costumes, as well as portraits. He designed the coat of arms of Lillehammer. He illustrated books by several Norwegian authors, including works by children's author Margrethe Aabel Munthe, educator Nordahl Rolfsen, adventurer Henrik August Angell and author Jacob Breda Bull. He also illustrated Fridtjof Nansen's expedition books Paa ski over Grønland (on his Greenland expedition) and Fram over Polhavet (Nansen's Fram expedition). His works are represented in both the National Gallery and in Oslo City Museum. He was married in 1890 to Ingeborg Elise Tellefsen. He died in Kristiania in 1917 and was buried at Skedsmo Church.