Odvar Barstad
Odvar Barstad: painter and woodcarver
Odvar Barstad was a Norwegian painter and woodcarver, born in Oslo on 14 October 1913. He worked in Gjøvik.
Education and background
He studied under Rudolph Thygesen and Ørnulf Salicath in 1943 and 1944, and at the Norwegian National Academy of Craft and Art Industry from 1950 to 1952.
He held a solo exhibition at Gjøvik Kunstforening in 1965.
Examining a work
When assessing a painting signed with the name Odvar Barstad, examine the complete image, the signature and the reverse. Record the exact spelling, whether a date accompanies the signature, and any inscriptions or old labels. Transcribing a signature is not the same as independently confirming the artist.
Distinguish a descriptive subject from an original title. “Market square scene” can describe what is visible without being the title chosen by the artist. Likewise, do not add a place name or date simply because the subject looks familiar. Ownership and exhibition records should be linked to the specific work being examined.
Condition and documentation
For paintings, record the support, framing, repairs and paint surface. Give the image dimensions separately from the overall frame dimensions. For woodcarvings, photograph the reverse and any marks as well as the subject. Valuation requires specific comparisons with documented sales, allowing for size, technique, subject and condition.
Source: Norsk kunstnerleksikon: Odvar Barstad. The biographical information above is based on this article. The documentation advice is general guidance, not a set of characteristics that independently identifies Barstad’s work.
