Forgotten Fridtjof

Today we celebrate the birth of Dr Fridtjof Nansen, who was born on this day 161 years ago in Store Frøen in Norway. A formidable man who would go on to change the world for the better in so many ways ❤️

I talk often on this blog of Nansen’s polar explorations, as well as his scientific, diplomatic and humanitarian work, but there were also other strings to his bow. He was an incredible artist and, later in life, he served as the first foreign rector of the University of St Andrew’s in Scotland.

I mention these two things together because it is St Andrew’s that now holds much of Nansen’s artwork, including some beautiful pencil sketches from his polar travels and self-portraits, which he would send to friends on Christmas cards.

So, here’s a selection of these images, showing once again that there really was nothing this man couldn’t do!