Books about Blaafarveværket
A number of books have been written by and about Blaafarveværket over the years. Here we add to them as new books are published.
Ingerid Hagen - "The blue colour from Modum - the heyday"
In the autumn of 1772, one of the most important discoveries in Norwegian history takes place. At Skuterudåsen in Modum, someone glimpses a strange blue tinge in the rock. It was cobalt - one of the world's most sought-after minerals. It was to be the start of one of the greatest industrial adventures in Norwegian history.
In volume two of this book series about Blaafarveværket, historian Ingerid Hagen takes you through the plant's heyday from 1822 to 1848. A time characterised by rapid expansion and formidable development. Through systematic and extensive use of sources, Hagen has created the best documented book to date about what was once Norway's pride and major industry. Join us on a journey through everything from industrial and chemical history to social and art history.
The book is richly illustrated - and many illustrations are published here for the first time. The book is sold in bookshops or at Blaafarveværket (NOK 449).
Here you can read one chapter as a taster.
Published books
History and industry
The blue colour from Modum - a world history: Blaafarveværket 1776-1821 - Ingerid Hagen
About the plant's early history, cobalt extraction and global significance for the blue pigment trade.
The blue colour from Modum - the heyday: Blaafarveværket 1822-1848 - Ingerid Hagen
Continuing the story through the plant's heyday and development.
Studies in archaeological science - Of goblins and Gods, 3.500 years of cobalt and its pigments - Andrew Shortland, Victoria Kemp, Lasse Hermansen Bjørnland and Patrick Degryse.
The book can be read online here: https://openresearchlibrary.org/viewer/28e05473-358b-4a14-ba70-fff099946085/1
Exhibition catalogues:
2025 – Hans Dahl, the Sunshine Painter
2024 - Everyone is talking about the forest
2023 - Nationalmuseum in Stockholm at Blaafarveværket
2022 - Between to Verdener
2021 - Summer adventures - highlights from the National Museum
2020 - Love stories - Mathilde Dietrichson
2019 - Norske Landskap - Lul Krag and Tone Indrebø
2018 - Home treasures
2017 - The dream of a garden
2016 - Meetings with Kai Fjell
2015 - Blue moods
2014 - Theodor Kittelsen
2013 - Munch and his painter friends
2012 - Women in art
2011 - The painting kings - Odd Nerdrum and Anders Zorn
2010 - Together - Three artist couples: Oda and Christian Krohg, Julie de Holmberg Krohn and Xan Krohn, Unni Askeland and Sverre Bjertnæs
2009 - Dream summer - Prince Eugen, Nikolai Astrup and Ulf Nilsen
2008 - Synnøve Anker Aurdal - 100 years
2008 - Walked me across sea and land - Tidemand and Gude, Larson and Zoll, Ole Jørgen Ness
2007 - Hip Hip Hooray - Christian Krohg, Carl Larsson, P.S. Krøyer, Håkon Gullvåg
2007 - Bewitched by the landscape - Th. Kittelsen
2006 - Puppet theatre along the way - the Mykle family and Norwegian puppet theatre
2006 - A dramatic meeting - Peder Balke and Ørnulf Opdahl
2005 - The marvellous silence - Hammershøi and Lorentzen
2004 - Thorvald Erichsen
2003 - Ib Geertsen
2003 - Nordic moods - Harald Sohlberg and L. A. Ring
2002 - King I - Carl Fredrik Hill
2002 - The house - the rooms - the story: Ida Lorentzen
2001 - Eroticism and glass - Ernst Josephson and Auguste Rodin
2000 - Blaafarveværket and Koboltgruvene - a part of the big world. Published in Norwegian, English and German.
2000 - The artist brothers Sinding - Otto, Stephan and Christian Sinding
1999 - Edvard Munch and Arne Kavli
1998 - Th. Kittelsen - The Black Death
1998 - Two painters - Asta Nørregaard and Helene Schjerfbeck
1997 - Summers in Skagen
1996 - The sweet life - colourists in the north
1995 - Summer with Th. Kittelsen
1994 - Summers in Normandy
1993 - Thv. Lindeman: Modums Blaafarveværk - a contribution to its history
1993 - Christian Krohg
1992 - Elsa Beskow
1992 - P.S. Krøyer
1991 - Margrethe II
1991 - Bruno Liljefors
1990 - Thorvald Moseid
1990 - Anders Zorn
1989 - Synnøve Anker Aurdal
1989 - Carl Larsson
1988 - Gerhardt Munthe
1987 - Nikolai Astrup
1986 - Thomas Fearnley
1985 - Erik Werenskiold
1984 - Tidemand - Gude
1983 - Harriet Backer - Kitty Kielland
1982 - Kai Fjeld 75 years
1981 - Hans Heyerdahl
1980 - Th. Kittelsen
1979 - Frits Thaulow
1979 - Danish porcelain - Norwegian blue colour
1978 - Christian Skredsvig
1978 - Tone Sinding Steinsvik: Blaafarveværket
Other books:
2023 - The miner's daughter - Elisabeth Almendingen. Book series of 10 books.
