Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 13

Julius Kronberg
The Poor Girl – An Early Genre Scene by Julius Kronberg, 1873

c.1873

About the Item

This small, tenderly rendered painting— titled The Poor Girl (Den fattiga flickan)—offers a rare glimpse into Julius Kronberg’s early period, when he was still exploring the genre motifs popular among Nordic and continental painters in the mid-19th century. The work depicts a young girl seated on the steps outside a rustic home, counting a few coins with quiet concentration. Her modest clothing, wool-lined jacket, green apron, and pink headscarf, together with the small wooden box and scattered coins, suggest a narrative of economic modesty, if not hardship. Yet there is dignity and softness in her expression, as if Kronberg aimed to portray not mere poverty, but the contemplative humanity of a young person in a fleeting moment of solitude. The panel is modest in scale—only 20.5 x 16 centimeters—and painted with careful, restrained detail. The brushwork is fine but not overly polished, and the subdued lighting gives the scene a quiet, domestic atmosphere. While the palette is earthy, the composition is subtly harmonized: the pale pink of the scarf, the deep red of the bodice, and the soft green apron create a visual balance that enhances the intimacy of the scene. A small triangular box lies open by her feet, further inviting the viewer into a private moment. Painted in the 1870s, this work may have been completed during Kronberg’s time in Düsseldorf, where he studied and absorbed the influence of the Düsseldorf School’s narrative realism. The German city was, at the time, a thriving hub for academic painters who favored sentimental genre scenes and rural subjects. The emotional restraint and anecdotal realism of The Poor Girl align with this tradition, while also pointing to the Nordic interest in moral clarity and social observation. Unlike Kronberg’s later and more monumental works—grand allegorical and mythological scenes filled with classical references—this painting reflects a quieter, more introspective dimension of his practice. It suggests an artist still forming his identity, attentive to the lives of ordinary people and the subtleties of expression in humble settings. oil on canvas signed J.Kronberg unframed: 20.5 x 16 cm (8 1/8 x 6 1/4 in) framed: 31 x 26 cm (12 1/4 x 10 1/4 in) original frame: 43 x 38 cm (16 7/8 x 15 in) Possibly exhibited as Den fattiga flickan (1873) at Kronberg’s memorial exhibition at Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, in 1923, catalouge no 15. Condition and frame option: Very good condition with bright, clear colors. Offered with a choice of frames: a newly made gilt frame or the original, which is somewhat oversized for the painting. If we don’t hear otherwise, the smaller frame will be provided.
  • Creator:
    Julius Kronberg (1850 - 1921, Swedish)
  • Creation Year:
    c.1873
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 12.21 in (31 cm)Width: 10.24 in (26 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Frame Included
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
    Very good condition with bright, clear colors. Offered with a choice of frames: a newly made gilt frame or the original, which is somewhat oversized for the painting. If we don’t hear otherwise, the smaller frame will be provided.
  • Gallery Location:
    Stockholm, SE
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1445216140062

More From This Seller

View All
Oil Painting Called "The Young Artist" by Swedish Johan Christoffer Boklund
Located in Stockholm, SE
Introducing a captivating oil painting by Johan Christoffer Boklund (1817-1880). The artwork depicts a young boy practicing his painting skills. Seated beside him is a wooden horse t...
Category

19th Century Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil, Board

The Old Stone Stairway By Düsseldorf Artist Ferdinand Fagerlin
Located in Stockholm, SE
This oil painting called The Old Stone Stairway by Ferdinand Fagerlin offers an intimate glimpse into a quiet interior space, where the stillness of...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Board

A Young Woman With Her Dog by Victor Ravet
Located in Stockholm, SE
In this exquisite painting by Victor Ravet, we are transported to an elegant interior setting reminiscent of the grandeur of high-class homes. The focal point is a woman adorned in a shimmering pink gown, radiating grace and sophistication. Bathed in gentle light, her dress catches the glimmer, accentuating her beauty. She holds a treat for a dog in her hand, enticing the furry companion who stands on its hind legs in eager anticipation. The canine's eyes fixated on the delicious morsel, capturing a moment of playful interaction between the woman and her loyal companion. The scene takes on a narrative quality as the young woman's other hand delicately lifts a curtain, hinting at another room beyond. This subtle gesture adds depth to the composition, suggesting a world of hidden secrets and intriguing possibilities within the opulent surroundings. Victor Ravet took inspiration from the Dutch Golden Age painters of the 17th century, such as Vermeer, Jacob Ochtervelt, and Gerrit Dou. This homage to their style and subject matter pays tribute to the timeless allure of domestic scenes, capturing a slice of life in a bygone era. With meticulous attention to detail, Ravet masterfully recreates the textures and fabrics, immersing the viewer in the sumptuousness of the period. The soft play...
Category

1870s Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Oil, Panel

The Grape Seller - Workshop of Jacob Ochtervelt
Located in Stockholm, SE
Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop) The Grape Seller oil on canvas unframed: 80.7 x 61 cm.; 31 ¾ x 24 in. framed: 109.5 x 89 cm.; 43 1/8 x 35 in. Essay: This captivating piece, originating from the studio of the revered Dutch artist Jacob Ochtervelt, mirrors the composition of a signed and dated 1669 canvas by Ochtervelt that is presently housed in the Hermitage museum. Its subject, "The Grape Seller" immerses us in a typical 17th-century interior, replete with characters from various strata of society. At the center, a fruit vendor is depicted bending over to weigh grapes for the buyer. A child hands some of the grapes to her mother to taste, their attentive maid standing by. The backdrop showcases typical Ochtervelt details: a hint of the city visible through the doorway, light filtering in through an overhead window, and a playful dog at their side. The exquisite quality of the piece is evident in the minutiae, such as the intricate detailing of the mother's earring, which in reality spans only a few millimeters yet boasts impressive attention to detail. Initially, Sotheby's considered this work to be an autograph piece by Ochtervelt. But due to some uncertainty, it was auctioned as Workshop of Jacob Ochtervelt. On the other hand, the esteemed Cabinet Turquin in Paris leans toward attributing the piece directly to Jacob Ochtervelt himself. The painting is framed in an authentic period frame, which has been delicately restored by Stockholm's Förgyllning och Bildhuggeri. The frame retains its age-old patina and, while in used condition, has minor imperfections adding to its charm. Another interesting thing worth to mention is the painting's provenance. It was once owned by the 1st Viscount Rothermere (1868-1940), the founder of the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror...
Category

17th Century Old Masters Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

At the spinning wheel, 1891
Located in Stockholm, SE
The small fishing village of Le Pouldu, located on Cap Finistère in Brittany, south of Concarneau and Pont-Aven, was nestled between the Laita River and the sea. The area was renowned for its sand dunes. A ferry operated there, transporting people and livestock across the river. In 1886, the village consisted of only 11 households and was so small it didn't even have a bakery. In 1890, Paul Gauguin and six other artists, including Paul Sérusier, Jacob Meyer...
Category

1890s Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

The Grape Seller by Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop), Oil on Canvas, Period Frame
Located in Stockholm, SE
Jacob Ochtervelt (Workshop) The Grape Seller oil on canvas unframed: 80.7 x 61 cm.; 31 ¾ x 24 in. framed: 109.5 x 89 cm.; 43 1/8 x 35 in. Essay: Th...
Category

1660s Dutch School Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

You May Also Like

Distrust - Contemporary, Figurative Painting, Window, Blue, Human, Female, Male
By Radu Rodideal
Located in Baden-Baden, DE
Distrust, 2012 Oil on canvas (Signed on reverse) 70.86 H x 70.86 W in 180 H x 180 W cm Radu Rodideal is interested in the atmosphere of his work. Human ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Faust
Located in Madrid, ES
JOSÉ GARCÍA Y RAMOS Spanish, 1852 - 1912 FAUST signed "J. García y Ramos" (lower right) oil on canvas 21-1/2 x 24-5/8 inches (54.5 x 62.5 cm.) framed: 24-5/8 x 27-3/4 (62.5 x 70.5 cm.) PROVENANCE Private Collection, France José García y Ramos (Seville, 1852-ibídem, 1912) was a Spanish painter and illustrator. He was a student of the Provincial School of Fine Arts of Seville from a young age, completing his training in the workshop of José Jiménez Aranda...
Category

1880s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Oil, Canvas

Interior - XXI Century, contemporary oil painting, Light & shadow contrasts
By Ilona Sapka
Located in Warsaw, PL
ILONA SAPKA studied at the School of Applied Arts, "Schola Posnaniensis" in Poznan. She received her diploma from the Faculty of Painting in the studio of stained glass led by prof. ...
Category

Early 2000s Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Vincenzo Colleoni (Venetian Master) - 19th century painting - Interior Masks
Located in Varmo, IT
Vincenzo Colleoni (Active in Venice in the second half of the 19th century) - Interior scene with masked characters. 110 x 160 cm without frame, 145 x 194 cm with frame. Antique oi...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Up the stairs to the garden of the heart. 2019, oil on canvas, 70x50 cm
By Igor Maikov
Located in Riga, LV
Igor Maikov (1966) Education: 1981 - 1984 The Art Academy of Latvia 1973 - 1983 Salaspils Primary and Secondary School Exhibitions: 1994 - Group Exhibition «Rol-Art», Latvia ...
Category

2010s Realist Figurative Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Oil

Old Times House Interior Scene with Naughty Boy 19th century Genre Oil Painting
Located in Stockholm, SE
The painting captures a wonderfully amusing family moment set in the 16th century. In the center of the painting we see the father, exhausted by worries and dozing in his chair in fr...
Category

Late 19th Century Realist Interior Paintings

Materials

Canvas, Wood, Oil

Recently Viewed

View All