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Oscar LyckeEarly Summer Light by Swedish Artist Oscar Lycke, 19111911
1911
About the Item
Executed in 1911, this ink and crayon drawing by Oscar Lycke captures the quiet clarity of early summer in northern Sweden. A hillside meadow, dotted with loosely gathered hay, unfolds under a luminous sky. Sparse trees, now in full leaf, rise gently along the midground, their delicate canopies rendered in layered strokes of green and yellow. The split-rail fence, or gärdesgård, leans softly across the slope, anchoring the composition in its rural Swedish setting. In the background, deep blue forested hills stretch across the horizon, lending the scene a sense of breadth and stillness.
Lycke’s technique is finely tuned: he combines sharp black ink contours with light, expressive touches of crayon to build a surface rich with texture and color. Every inch of the image vibrates with life – from the undulating ground lines that suggest soft grass and wind-blown hay, to the pointillist-like sky, where fine strokes of pink and orange hint at dawn or sunset. The drawing’s energy lies not in dramatic movement, but in the balance between structure and atmosphere. The effect is quietly immersive, drawing the viewer into a moment suspended in light.
This landscape is likely set in the valley of Indalsälven near Liden, a place Lycke returned to throughout his career. The geography is familiar: open meadows, sloping hills, scattered trees, and wooden fences all echo the forms found in his other views from the region. But it is not topography that Lycke aims to record – it is light. The drawing radiates the particular brilliance of early summer in the Swedish north, when the sun lingers late and the land breathes in color and calm.
Oscar Lycke, born in 1877, had no formal academic training. Instead, he developed his remarkable technique through practical work and observation. He moved between Stockholm and northern Sweden, absorbing the rhythms of rural life. His art gained modest attention in Sweden but found unexpected acclaim in New York, where an early solo exhibition was a resounding success. American audiences were struck by the intimacy and precision of his northern scenes – landscapes that felt both specific and timeless.
Early Summer Light reveals the full sensitivity of Lycke’s vision. With restrained tools and a limited palette, he evokes not just a place, but a feeling – of warmth, quietness, and the gentle movement of air through grass and leaves. In this drawing, the countryside is not idealized or dramatized; it is simply seen and rendered with clarity, care, and affection. Lycke’s work invites us to slow down and observe the world as he did: attentively, patiently, and with wonder.
Provenance:
Acquired directly from Katarina Gunnarsson, who inherited the painting from her mother, Barbro, the daughter of the artist.
ink and crayon on paper
signed and dated OSC LYCKE 11
unframed 24 x 32 cm (9.4 x 12.6 in)
framed 35.5 x 42 cm (14 x 16.5 in)
- Creator:Oscar Lycke (1877 - 1927, Swedish)
- Creation Year:1911
- Dimensions:Height: 13.98 in (35.5 cm)Width: 16.54 in (42 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Age related patina, a small tear close to the signature on the right side (approx 1.5 cm). New frame with UV protected art glass is included. Ready to hang!
- Gallery Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1445216379982
Oscar Lycke was a Swedish painter best known for his evocative depictions of the northern landscape. Born in Sundsvall in 1877, he devoted his life to capturing the forests, rivers, and light of Norrland in works that combine national romanticism with a strong sense of realism. His paintings remain beloved today for their vivid atmosphere and heartfelt connection to the Nordic environment. Largely self-taught, Lycke showed artistic talent from an early age. After receiving mixed encouragement from his schoolteachers, he left Sundsvall at the age of 20 to pursue a career as an artist in Stockholm. The early years were difficult—he had no formal training and struggled to make a living—but his dedication never wavered. Over time, he gained recognition and began exhibiting in cities across Sweden, including Malmö and Norrköping, as well as internationally in Copenhagen and New York. Lycke was constantly on the move, traveling through Sweden in search of new landscapes and inspiration. He lived at different times in places like Delsbo and Hudiksvall, and during the war years of 1915–1918, he settled in Stockholm, spending summers with his family in Räfsnäs in the Stockholm archipelago. Eventually, he returned to his native Sundsvall, where he continued to paint until the end of his life. His artistic style reflects the cultural mood of early 20th-century Swedish art. Like many of his contemporaries, Lycke was drawn to national themes, finding beauty and identity in the Swedish countryside. His landscapes often depict the shifting light of dawn or dusk, dense spruce forests, and quiet paths glowing with natural color. The emotional resonance of his work, rooted in both memory and place, made him a favorite especially among those with ties to the north. Oscar Lycke passed away in 1927 at the age of 50, after a long period of illness and declining vision. A memorial exhibition at Sundsvalls museum in the late 1970s reaffirmed his significance, especially as a painter of northern Sweden. Today, Oscar Lycke remains a cherished figure in early 20th-century Swedish art, remembered for his lyrical portrayals of Norrland landscapes and his ability to transform everyday nature into something timeless.
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