Female Pioneers in Art.
Ambrosia Tønnesen & Harriet Backer
Harriet Backer. Foto: Th. Thorkelsen. Via Nasjonalbiblioteket.
When
Where Permanenten
Sculptor Ambrosia Tønnesen and painter Harriet Backer defied norms and carved out a place for themselves in art history. On March 13, Kode and the Bergen Women’s Rights Association invite you to an evening of insight, conversation, and reflection on these female pioneers.
Buy ticket17:00 – Introduction to the exhibitions.
Sculptor Ambrosia Tønnesen and painter Harriet Backer were both groundbreaking artists. On March 13, you can experience major exhibitions of their works at Permanenten. We will gather in the Festsalen for an introduction to the exhibitions before you have time to explore them on your own until the lecture begins.
18:00 – Lecture by art historian Renate Rivedal.
Ambrosia Tønnesen is considered Norway’s first professional female sculptor. She was a recognized artist in her time, and many of her works still shape the cityscape of Bergen. In this lecture, we will get to know the fascinating, ambitious, unconventional, and highly skilled Ambrosia Tønnesen. Was she truly a women’s rights advocate? And what impact has her art had on female artists?
18:30 – Conversation
After the lecture, there will be a conversation between lecturer Renate Rivedal and Associate Professor of Art History at the University of Bergen, Sigrun Aasebø. Sigrun Aasebø is known for her dedication and art historical research with a feminist perspective.
About the Exhibitions:
Ambrosia Tønnesen (1859–1948) was a sculptor—a highly unconventional career choice—and was highly productive in the late 19th century. She exhibited in Paris and received important public art commissions in Norway. Among her works is the J.C. Dahl monument, the bronze sculpture that adorns the façade of Permanenten.
This exhibition offers a deeper insight into Tønnesen through more than 60 works in plaster, bronze, and marble. A long-term effort to locate her works has formed the foundation of the exhibition, and several pieces have not been displayed since the artist’s lifetime
Harriet Backer (1845–1932) was one of Norway’s most significant artists and a pioneer among female artists in Europe. She primarily painted interior scenes, where the effects of natural light and strong, vibrant colors played a central role.
"Every Atom is Color" presents Backer’s life, artistic development, and position in society during a time of radical change in women’s rights. This is the most comprehensive exhibition of Backer’s work in nearly 30 years. Initiated by Kode and the National Museum in Oslo, the exhibition has toured internationally, with presentations at the Musée d'Orsay in Paris (2024–25), the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm (2024), and the National Museum in Oslo (2023) over the past two years.
