Inggard Rosseland Biography

Inggard Rosseland

Norwegian

1914-1994

Biography

Inggard Rosseland was born on Vikøy Prestegård, Norway on April 6, 1914. In 1922, his parents, Sjurina and Johan Rosseland, bought the small farm Nesland on Lidarende. Here Inggard grew up as a nobleman with two brothers and a sister. His uncle, Professor Svein Rosseland, saw early on what talent Inggard was to draw, and was eager to get him into the School of Arts and Crafts in Bergen. With a degree from the advertising line, he was employed at H&A Minde Sjokoladefabrikk, where he worked until the occupying power took over. In 1942 he married Inger Sæbø. The two settled at Hop in Bergen, where they had sons Rune and Jarle.

Inggard was one of the founders of Studieatelieret in Bergen. The Inggard Rosseland family moved to Munch's Ekely in 1961. The environment here came to mean a lot to his art, but at the same time Inggard was very conscious of his artistic desire to create his own expressions. According to him, Mons Breivik was the teacher he owed the most. This is despite the fact that their works of art appear very different. Inggard never forgot his hometown. He visited Kvam every summer, and the sketchbook followed him as always. He also had many sketches made on study trips abroad. The sketches were diligently used at home in the studio as inspiration for larger works. Elements from different places were often combined, and perhaps also with motifs from literary landscapes.

Rosseland is represented in a large number of galleries at home and abroad. He is probably first and foremost remembered as an eminent graphic artist (woodcut and copper engraving), but his oil paintings are also central. He was also a ceramicist, sculptor, book illustrator, portrait painter, art critic for Vårt Land and a drawing teacher. As a graphic artist and illustrator, he made a name for himself with original woodcuts for Hans Henrik Holm's Folkeepo's volumes VI and VII 1970 - 1971. He also made a number of Jakob Sande interpretations in black and white graphics.

As a sculptor, Inggard carried out solid work with Solheim Memorial Cemetery. His last portrait relief was of his father, Svein Rosseland. It was unveiled at the University of Oslo and at Steinsdalsfossen after his death.As for his work as a wood carver, we can mention the copy of the crucifixion group in Urnes Stave Church for the chapel of the Nursing Foundation in Bergen, a wooden relief that adorns Årdal ungdomsskole, a galleon figure commissioned by the Maritime Museum in Bergen and the frieze that decorates Ytre Arna skule.

To me, he was and is the epitome of the romantic notion of the "artist". Grandfather lived and breathed for his art. He always worked! In his spare time he acquired knowledge in a wide variety of disciplines, and in his library there were dictionaries and books in countless languages. I'm glad I got to know him and his wonderful world!

Inggard Rosseland died in his home in Oslo on Ekely on April 2 1994.

Silje M. Rosseland