Theodor Kittelsen was a Norwegian artist best known for his paintings, prints, and illustrations of eerie Nordic folklore. Typically rendered in muted tones and set in mountainous landscapes, his work has a dream-like quality. Born on April 27, 1857 in Kragerø, Norway, Kittelsen's early life was rife with struggle, his father died when he was only 11, hurtling him and his seven siblings into poverty. Kittelsen studied drawing under Wilhelm von Hannon in Oslo, leading him to a career illustrating for German periodicals. Commissioned by folklore enthusiasts Peter Christen Asbjørnsen and Jørgen Moe, the artist illustrated a now famous edition of Norwegian Folktales. The artist died on January 21, 1914 in Jeløya, Norway. His work is memorialized at the Theodor Kittelsen Museum in Blaafarveværket, Norway.