Carl Larsson (1853 - 1919) was a Swedish painter known primarily for his charming paintings of family and interiors. Often using his own children as models, Larsson's beautifully realized watercolors evoke the quiet spirit of family life amid colorful surroundings. His work has made familiar the warm, bright 'look' of Swedish interior style. You can still visit Larsson's family home today in Sundborn, Sweden. Read more about Carl Larsson here.
This is a wonderful book I own and can recommend if you'd like to see more of Carl Larsson's work and read more about his life and times. The Larsson website is a great source of info about currently available books and prints.
His art looks so familiar. Did he do illustrations for books?
ReplyDeletePatti, I don't really know. Possibly. I'm not sure he did illustration work. You may have seen his paintings in a magazine sometime. He's featured quite frequently in all sorts of decorating books and magazines. Or you may have seen one of his books showing his paintings. I've loved his work since I was in highschool.
ReplyDeleteI love the top painting. I can't take my eyes of the boy or the flowers. The rest of it I notice but more as a back drop for those images.
ReplyDeleteRyan: I love the use of blue and white mixed in with the other colors. So soothing. Very Swedish.
ReplyDeleteThis boy in that same outfit, more or less, shows up in another painting if I'm not mistaken.
Carl Larsson was immensely popular in Scandinavia around 1980. Everybody had posters, mugs, trays etc with Larsson paintings - so of course I haven´t seen him since because suddenly he was just old junk ;)
ReplyDeleteIn or not, I like his simple style very much.
Oh, Dorte, I love his work. I always have. Ever since I discovered him in the 1960's. For me he's never been 'out'. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have this book too, and just love it. I love this family. I think his wife died quite young. So sad.
ReplyDeleteNan: I love this artist, always have. It's interesting that I don't think he valued his family paintings as much as he did what he considered his more 'important' heavyweight paintings. This caused him some grief I believe. I love these lighthearted watercolors. His use of color in his paintings as well as in his and his wife's decorating of their little house, is superb.
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