Måleriet

Måleriet is a term used in Nordic languages to refer to painting as an art form and to the body of paintings produced by artists or within a particular period or tradition. In Danish and Norwegian, the equivalent term maleriet is the standard definite form meaning “the painting” or “the paintings.” In Swedish, måleri is the common noun for the art of painting, while måleriet appears mainly in older texts or as a title and can also denote the collection of a painter’s works or a period’s output.

As a concept, måleriet encompasses a wide range of media and techniques used to create pictorial works, including oil, acrylic, tempera, watercolor, gouache, fresco, and mixed media. It covers both individual masterpieces and broader movements within art history. The term is frequently used in critical writing, museum labeling, and curatorial contexts to discuss style, technique, iconography, and the development of painting across time.

The historical scope of måleriet is global but has particular resonance in Nordic art history, where painting has evolved from medieval religious panels and landscapes to Romantic, Realist, Modernist, and contemporary practices. In regional contexts, discussions of måleriet often emphasize natural landscapes, light, and everyday life, as well as exchanges with broader European art movements. Museums and galleries in Scandinavia frequently present works described as måleriet to illustrate stylistic trends and the evolution of the craft.

See also: painting, oil painting, watercolor, contemporary art, art history.