Bjarne Walle was born on 10 April 1911 in Bamble, Norway and lived there all his life. He grew up immersed in the natural beauty of the Norwegian countryside. From an early age, he exhibited a deep appreciation for the forest and its bountiful offerings. Fascinated by the local woodcarving tradition that thrived in his community, Bjarne’s artistic journey began to take shape as he observed the intricate works of his predecessors.
Driven by an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a burning desire to refine his skills, Walle embarked on a lifelong quest for mastery. He sought guidance from renowned woodcarvers across Norway, studying their techniques and delving into the rich history of the craft. Bjarne’s tireless dedication and countless hours of practice honed his innate talent, allowing him to develop a unique artistic style that set him apart.
He became known early on as a woodcarver, and made a living as such. Walle’s carvings encompassed a diverse range of subjects, each meticulously rendered with finesse and precision. Whether depicting mythical creatures from Norwegian folklore, pastoral scenes of village life, or intricate patterns inspired by traditional designs, Bjarne’s works exhibited a deep connection to his cultural roots. His masterful ability to bring out the natural beauty of the wood, revealing its unique grain patterns and textures, elevated his creations to the realm of art.
He drew inspiration from local folklore, Norse mythology, and the rustic beauty of his surroundings, his creations exuded an aura of authenticity and storytelling. With an expert eye for detail and an innate understanding of the wood’s characteristics, Walle breathed life into each piece he crafted, capturing the essence of his subjects with unparalleled skill.
His production was large, and he held several exhibitions in Norway and abroad.
In 1963 Norwegian broadcaster NRK aired a 30min special titled “The woodcarver in Bamble”. TV presenter, Richard W. Larsson, spent a day with Bjarne Walle while he provided unique insight into his woodcarving process and carvings: Click here to watch the episode
Bjarne Walle most commonly signed his carvings “BW” with a black marker or carved “BW” into the wooden base. There are also instances where he signed “Bj. Walle” and sometimes include the year the carving was made.
My personal favourite Bjarne Walle carving is the one that depicts the Norwegian fairytale about The Boy Who Had an Eating Match with a Troll (Norwegian: Askeladden som kappåt med trollet). This story was collected by Asbjørnsen and Moe during their travels in Norway. The troll is, as commonly depicted, not very intelligent and has poor vision, while the boy is clever, outwitting the troll to win an eating contest.
Askeladden (Ashlad) finds himself trapped in a cave with a troll who plans to eat him. After some quick thinking, he challenges the troll to a porridge eating contest. The troll has bad eyesight and Askeladden straps his backpack to the front as you can see in the carving. He tricks the troll by pretending to eat the porridge, but instead he uses the spoon to pour the porridge into his backpack. The troll is amazed at how much Askeladden can eat and asks him how he does it. Then Askeladden takes a knife and cuts the backpack open and the porridge comes out. Askeladden explains that is how he can eat so much, as when he is full he just cuts open his stomach so he can eat more. The troll then takes the knife and does the same and kills himself. Very clever indeed!
Bjarne captures the story and expressions perfectly in his carving:
Below is an image of the scene from Ivo Caprino’s puppet animation of the same story:
Bjarne also produced his own unique artwork. The drawing below illustrates one of his troll characters barging into the church and interrupting a christening ceremony.
The artistry was present in the family as his brother Anker Walle was also a woodcarver.
A few examples of troll carvings made by Anker Walle:
Bjarne Walle wasn’t only a skilled woodcarver, his talent extended further as he delved into drawing, painting and writing. For a number of years, he was also one of Norway’s most widely read authors. His first novel was published in 1969, and in 13 years he wrote 18 novels. The scene in the books is set in a Norwegian rural environment in the old days. The books are lush depictions of folk life, rich in environmental and natural atmospheres.
Marit Walle speaks about her father: “His books were first written out in the workshop among knives, wood chips, bears, moose, trolls, old women and old men in wood. He carved sculptures, most of them in humorous situations. But there were also many of the wildlife in Norwegian forests, and then the trolls. He had many exhibitions, not only at the Trade Convention, but also in Denmark, and many carvings were sold to the USA and Germany.”
Bibliography (titles translated to English):
- In the light of the (1977)
- Hagar’s children (1978)
- Live Gautesdatter og skoggangsmannen (1979)
- Oluf Varg (1980)
- The legend of Gølin (1981)
- Gølin’s winter (1982)
- Spring under the snow (1983)
- Stormbird (1984)
- The dream of Åste (1985)
- Inger (1986)
- Legends from the woods and mountains (1987)
- Huldra from Gåråfjell (1987)
- Daughters of the Earth (1987)
- Lapp-Marie (1989)
- Tater-John (1990)
- The links (1991)
- Peaceless (1991)
- The Bureiserne in Bjønndalen (1993)
- Vesle-Audun (1994)
Most books were published between 1977 and 1994, but many of them had already appeared as editions in the Arbeiderpressen across the country before Aschehoug published his first book. Several of the books were published after his death in 1989. Source: bokelskere
Bjarne Walle passed away in 1989 at the age of 78. His dedication to his craft, combined with his profound connection to Norwegian culture and nature, resulted in timeless woodcarvings that continue to evoke awe and inspiration both locally and beyond.
Bjarne’s legacy lives on through his masterful creations, reminding us of the enduring beauty and storytelling power of woodcarving. In September and October 2021, his art was showcased at the Walle Exhibition – Four generations of creative expression in the Grindbakken building at Stathelle. The aim of the exhibition was to document the Walle family’s art and work over the past 100 years: conveyed by 11 artists over four generations.
The main emphasis was placed on the life works of the brothers Bjarne and Anker Walle, thereby shedding new light on a history that is perhaps soon to be forgotten. Photos from the exhibition can be seen below:
The exhibition is available as a virtual and interactive experience, where you can navigate using the arrow keys on a computer or by tapping the screen on a mobile phone or tablet:
Click here to explore the digital Walle Exhibition
There are around 70 interactive points in the exhibition. These include text, images, website links, films, and 3D scanned figures that you can rotate and explore. This format allows the Walle Exhibition to remain accessible for anyone who wants to revisit it, for those who missed it, and for visitors from anywhere in the world.
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THANK YOU! I’ve enjoyed reading about Bj Walle as I have a large piece from 1970 that I treasure. It is a wolf eating porridge at the surprise of the troll. Marvelous! Jane Hult from Massachusetts USA
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