A Life Formed in Oslo

Alf Rolfsen arrived in the world in Kristiania, now known as Oslo, on 28 January 1895. He was born into a family of letters, the son of the writer Nordahl Rolfsen and Hedevig Martha Hastrup Birch. His early years were shaped by the intellectual atmosphere of Norway, yet his path led away from the written word toward the visual arts. After studying under Peter Rostrup Bøyesen in Copenhagen between 1913 and 1916, he sought broader horizons in Paris. It was there, from 1919 to 1920, that the influence of André Derain left its mark on his developing eye.

In 1920, he married Ingrid Platou, a union that began as he held his first solo exhibition in Oslo. His travels were not limited to France; study trips to Italy in the early 1920s further refined his understanding of light and form. He moved through the art world with a steady hand, eventually establishing himself as a figure of significant weight in Norwegian public life.

The Art of the Wall

While many artists find their place on canvas, Rolfsen found his most enduring expression on the architecture of his homeland. He became a central figure in the Norwegian fresco era during the first half of the twentieth century. His technical range was broad, encompassing oil paintings, drawings, and sketches, but it was his mastery of fresco that defined his career. In 1922, he began work on the foundation wall of the Telegraph Building at Kongens gate 21 in Oslo, a project that set the stage for his later monumental works.

His most significant undertaking arrived with the decoration of the Oslo City Hall Central Hall. Tasked with this responsibility in 1938, he spent years working on walls that would eventually host the Nobel Peace Prize ceremonies. His contributions to this space were varied and heavy with historical weight:

• The northern wall, titled Arbeidets Norge fra de drivende garn til skovene i øst.
• The eastern wall, a massive 30-metre work titled Okkupasjonshistorien, which depicted motifs from the Nazi occupation of Norway.
• The western wall, dedicated to St. Hallvard, the patron saint of Oslo.

These works were finally uncovered in 1950, revealing a narrative of Norwegian life and struggle that had been hidden during the war years.

A Legacy in Stone and Color

Rolfsen’s reach extended far beyond the capital. He left his mark on various religious and civic structures, including the decoration of the Vestre gravlund crematorium between 1932 and 1937, and the Haugesund City Hall from 1952 to 1954. His hand also graced the walls of Stiklestad Church in Verdal and Ullensaker Church in Akershus. Beyond these large-scale murals, he was a skilled illustrator, bringing life to editions of Asbjørnsen and Moe's fairy tales.

His contributions earned him several high honors, including the Knight of the Swedish Order of the Polar Star in 1937 and the Commander of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav in 1955. He was also a recipient of the Prince Eugen Medal and the Arts Council Norway Honorary Award. When he passed away on 10 November 1979, he left behind a body of work held in the National Gallery of Norway, including oil paintings such as Kilden, Gruppe, and Den store stasjon.