Astrup was born in Bremanger in Nordfjord, but grew up in Ålhus in Jølster where his father worked as a priest. He was the great-grandson of Nils Astrup, a one-term member of parliament. His father Christian wanted Nikolai, the oldest son, to become a priest as well, but Nikolai was more interested in drawing and painting.
He studied these subjects in Oslo where he was a student at Backer popular school of painting.
He later lived for a while in Paris and in Germany before returning to Jølster. The economy was very tight and he struggled with poor health. Astrup died of pneumonia in 1928 at the age of 47 in Jølster"s neighbouring municipality Førde.
Astrup preferred clear, strong colors and usually made landscape art depicting his surroundings in Jølster.
Having spent the majority of his life in Jølster, the Nordic landscape proved a strong influence and through his paintings he sought "a national "visual language" that evoked the traditions and folklore of his homeland". His paintings describe an intimate interaction between nature and the built environment, characterized by bold lines and distinctive rich color.
Astrup is regarded as a neo-romantic painter, but he also worked with woodcuts. Nikolai Astrup is looked upon as one of the greatest Norwegian artists from the early 1900s, and several of his paintings have been sold at auctions for approximately $500,000 United States dollar. Astrup"s works have been likened to those of his contemporary Edvard Munch, though Astrup"s style has been described as being "so much brighter – not just in colour, but also in mood".
Although well-known in Norway, Astrup is little-known in the rest of the world.
The first exhibition of his work outside of Norway is taking place at Dulwich Picture Gallery, London from 5 February - 15 May 2016. The exhibition will display over 90 oil paintings and prints, including works from private collections never exhibited before. One wing at KODE, Bergen"s largest museum for paintings, is devoted entirely to Astrup"s work.
Tun i Jølster, (1902) Stabbur i Jølster, (before 1905) Kvennagong, (before 1905) Prestegården, (before 1907) Grå vårkveld, (1907) Juninatt og gammelt vestlandstun, (before 1908) Kollen, (1908) Vårnatt i hagen, (1909) Jonsokbål, (1912-1926) Vårstemning, (before 1914) Priseld, (1915) Revebjelle, (ca 1920) Interiør medical vugge, (ca 1920).
