Knud Plesner Ibsen (3 October 1797, in Skien – 24 October 1877, in Skien) was a Norwegian merchant from the city of Skien and the father of the playwright Henrik Ibsen. He is widely considered the model for many central characters in his son's plays, including Jon Gynt in Peer Gynt and Old Ekdahl in The Wild Duck. Through the Paus family—the family of Knud's stepfather Ole Paus and Marichen's mother Hedevig—Knud was raised as a close relative of his would-be wife Marichen Altenburg, although they were not closely related biologically.
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👉 Knud Ibsen in the context of Stockmanngården
Stockmanngården (Stockmann House) was a large building in central Skien, known as the birthplace of the playwright Henrik Ibsen. It burned down during the great fire of 1886. It was located at the corner of Telemarksgaden and Prindsens Gade (now known as Henrik Ibsens gate). It was the city's most central townhouse, and had ten full rooms as well as loft, stables, barn and other outbuildings. It was named for the merchant Christian Stockmann.
In 1825 Knud Ibsen, aged 28, established himself as an independent timber and luxury goods merchant in Skien with his younger half-brother Christopher Blom Paus, aged 15, as his apprentice. In the 1825 census the two brothers lived in Stockmanngården with a maid named Marthe Isachsdatter, aged 30. The building's owner, the merchant's widow Rachel Stockmann, also lived in the building with her two daughters. In December 1825 Knud Ibsen married his stepfather's niece (his brother's first cousin) Marichen Altenburg, who then moved in with them. Henrik Ibsen was born in the building in 1828. On the ground floor the brothers Ibsen/Paus ran an assorted retail trade for wine, yarn and cotton goods, canvas, ivory chamber, mirrors, glass and brass objects, optical articles and foam pipes. In 1831 the Ibsen family moved to Marichen's childhood home, Altenburggården.
In this Dossier
Knud Ibsen in the context of The Wild Duck
The Wild Duck (original Norwegian title: Vildanden) is an 1884 play by the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen. It explores the complexities of truth and illusion through the story of a family torn apart by secrets and the intrusion of an idealistic outsider. It focuses on the Ekdal family, whose fragile peace is shattered by Gregers Werle, an idealist who insists on exposing hidden truths, leading to tragic consequences. The play was written in a realistic style, but literary scholars have pointed out the play's kinship with symbolism. It blends themes such as deception, betrayal, and the disillusionment of modern life with moments of comedy and satire, and is considered the first modern masterpiece in the genre of tragicomedy. The Wild Duck and Rosmersholm are "often to be observed in the critics' estimates vying with each other as rivals for the top place among Ibsen's works".
Themes of visibility and recognition permeate the narrative, featuring characters struggling to be seen while metaphorically and literally blind to each other's true selves, symbolized through motifs such as blindness, photography, and the wounded wild duck. Like other Ibsen plays, it is rich with references to Ibsen's family; "Old Ekdal" is a literary portrait of the playwright's father Knud Ibsen. The character "Gregers Werle" represents the spirit of the Paus family and Upper Telemark, a broader theme that is found in many of Ibsen's plays.
Knud Ibsen in the context of Rising, Norway
Rising is an old estate, area and geographical entity (Norwegian: matrikkelgård) in Gjerpen, Norway, known for its association with Henrik Ibsen. It is located just outside of the city of Skien, and became part of Skien municipality in 1964.
Knud Ibsen in the context of Marichen Altenburg
Marichen Cornelia Martine Altenburg (24 April 1799 – 3 June 1869) was the mother of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen and is known as the model for several characters in some of Ibsen's most famous plays, including Åse in Peer Gynt. Through the Paus family—the family of Marichen's mother Hedevig and Knud's stepfather Ole Paus—Marichen was raised as a close relative of her would-be husband Knud Ibsen, although they were not closely related biologically.
Knud Ibsen in the context of Ole Paus (shipowner)
Ole Paus (23 March 1766 – 26 July 1855) was a Norwegian ship's captain, shipowner and land owner, who belonged to the patriciate of the port town of Skien from the late 18th century. He is noted as the stepfather of Knud Ibsen (1797–1877) as well as being the uncle of Marichen Altenburg (1799–1869) the parents of noted playwright Henrik Ibsen (1828–1906).