Nikolai Astrup was a Norwegian painter. He 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 Harriet Backer's popular school of painting.

He later lived for a while in Paris and in Germany before returning to Jølster. He got married there and had 8 children. 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...