Leiv Eirikson discovering America
Christian Krohg · 1893
Why it's great
The Viking explorer Leif Erikson stands in the bow of a longship, gazing at the shore of a new land, with his crew behind him. Christian Krohg painted this in 1893 for the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago, which celebrated Columbus. Norwegians wanted to remind everyone that Vikings reached North America around the year 1000. It's a proud picture of Viking history.
🏛️ Part of history
The Viking Age (793–1066) — Leif Erikson's crew, sailing west from Greenland around the year 1000, see the shores of North America for the first time.
Where to see it
📍 National Museum of Art, Architecture and DesignOslo, Norway
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Christian Krohg was born near Christiania (now Oslo) and was a painter, writer and a leader of the Realist movement in Norway. He studied in Germany and France and painted fishermen, poor people and the sea. He supported social change and caused controversy with his novel and paintings. He died in Oslo in 1925.
