A Short Visit to Kragerø - Part 1: A Master of Satire and Caricatures

A Short Visit to Kragerø – Part 1: A Master of Satire and Caricatures

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Kragerø is a town on the coast of Telemark in Southern Norway. The town is known for its many summer tourists and several art galleries. My husband’s father, Odd Einarson, lived here from 1960 to his death in 1991. He was a famous Norwegian cartoonist who made controversial satire before and after World War II. When my husband and I visited the town some days ago, there was a memory exhibition of his drawings in Kragerø Art Association’s premises.

The gallery was well-visited and I am proud of my husband´s father for the legacy he left. His important satirical drawings are still relevant. He made caricatures of half a million Norwegians each drawn in 3-4 minutes in his rolling atelier car.

Posing in front of a large photo of Odd Einarson in his atelier car that also was one of the first Norwegian mobile homes — Posing in front of a large photo of Odd Einarson in his atelier car that was also one of the first Norwegian mobile homes

At the gallery, with the commissioned staff of the Kragerø Art Association

Accidentally met some friends at the exhibit

Deciphering the messages of his drawings

Let’s look at some of the hundreds of political drawings he made:

Hitler caricature, 1934, shooting himself in the back

Culture of Europa, a bad tree carrying bad fruits, referring to the bible quote “By their fruit you will recognize them” — Culture of Europe— a bad tree carrying bad fruits, referring to the bible quote “By their fruit, you will recognize them”

A media binocular that turns black into white

Which way will humanity choose, to be eradicated like the dinosaurs or not?

Curious and discerning of the works of a great artist

Odd Einarson was also editor and publisher of a controversial satirical magazine in 1946/47. He was against the reintroduction of the death penalty after the war and pointed out that “only the one who is clean can throw the first stone” and referred to the way Jesus solved conflicts. — Odd Einarson was also the editor and publisher of a controversial satirical magazine in 1946/47. He was against the reintroduction of the death penalty after the war and pointed out that “only the one who is clean can throw the first stone” and referred to the way Jesus solved conflicts

In awe of the powerful messages depicted by the drawings, still applicable today. Here, the deathbed of the Freedom of Speech — In awe of the powerful messages depicted by the drawings still applicable today. Here, the deathbed of the Freedom of Speech

My husband in front of the satirical magazine “Trollspeilet” “The Troll Mirror” where the son of the Devil ask his father: “Do people know that it was you who made the borders between them?¨ — My husband in front of the satirical magazine “Trollspeilet” “The Troll Mirror” where the son of the Devil asks his father: “Do people know that it was you who made the borders between them?¨

Biography of Odd Einarson: "The Warm Front", edited by my husband. — Biography of Odd Einarson: “The Warm Front”, edited by my husband

Odd Einarson’s satirical drawings were too much for the authorities in Norway after World War II and he was denied to publish his views. Instead, he built a mobile home, traveled the whole country, made caricatures of people, got a good living out of that, and became a legend.

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