Adolph Tidemand: The Return of the Bear Hunter (1862) | Art Print

Discover the drama and rich storytelling of The Return of the Bear Hunter, painted by Norwegian artist Adolph Tidemand in 1862. The detailed interior scene captures the wounded hunter’s return to his family and offers a fascinating glimpse into nineteenth-century Norwegian rural life.

• Art print featuring The Return of the Bear Hunter by Adolph Tidemand
• Printed on heavyweight 200 gsm matte paper
• Refined, non-reflective surface
• Available in five sizes
• FSC-certified or equivalent paper
• Frame is not included
• Typically delivered within 2–5 business days

A dramatic scene from Norwegian rural life

The injured hunter sits at the centre of a crowded farmhouse interior while family members tend to him. A rifle rests against the table, hunting equipment lies on the floor and young men enter carrying bearskins. Every figure reacts differently, giving the painting the tension and narrative detail of a scene from a historical drama.

Tidemand built the composition around expressions, gestures and carefully observed objects. The dark timber interior frames the figures, while light falls across the hunter and the people gathered around him. The result is one of the artist’s most compelling depictions of community, danger and rural tradition.

“Many of his motifs became so popular with the public that he made several repetitions of them, often with small variations.”

The bear-hunter subject first appeared in Tidemands work during the 1850s and was painted in several versions. This 1862 version belongs to the National Museum of Norway.

Artwork details

Adolph Tidemand and Norwegian genre painting

Tidemand travelled extensively through Norway, studying rural interiors, clothing and customs. These observations became the foundation of his genre paintings, which presented Norwegian everyday life to audiences at home and across Europe.

The Return of the Bear Hunter brings this tradition into a darker and more dramatic register. Its warm earth colours and densely arranged figures make it an expressive choice for a living room, study, library or history-inspired gallery wall.

Explore more works in our Norwegian art collection, or pair this print with Tidemands best-known collaboration with Hans Gude, Bridal Procession on the Hardangerfjord.

Frequently asked questions

Who painted The Return of the Bear Hunter?

The painting was created by Norwegian artist Adolph Tidemand in 1862.

What does the painting depict?

It shows a wounded bear hunter returning to a rural home, where family and neighbours gather around him while members of the hunting party carry bearskins through the doorway.

Where is the original painting?

The original belongs to the National Museum of Norway in Oslo.

Is a frame included?

No. The frame shown in presentation images is not included.

How quickly is the poster delivered?

The art print is typically delivered within 2–5 business days.