The Norwegian artist Frits Thaulow (1857-1906) faced opposition from his father regarding his artistic ambitions, and it was not until he had completed his pharmacy degree in 1870 that he began his studies at the Art Academy in Copenhagen under the marine painter C F Sörensen, and later with Hans F Gude in Karlsruhe. In 1874, he moved to Paris where he was influenced by the Swedish plein-air painter Carl Skånberg. The academic realists, primarily Jean Bastien-Lepage and the "water painter" Charles Daubigny, became early role models whose style shaped the young Thaulow's artistic worldview. He returned to his hometown of Oslo, where his blend of realism and impressionism was highly appreciated. During the 1880s, he devoted himself to plein-air painting in Norway and founded an outdoor academy in Modum.
In 1892, Thaulow returned to Paris and stayed there for several years. During this period, Thaulow exhibited in Paris and socialised with several of the French impressionists, including Claude Monet.