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Birger HjelmBirger Hjelm – Våreldar ("Spring Fires"), c. 1935c. 1935-1938
c. 1935-1938
$4,022.91
£3,040.37
€3,388
CA$5,619.67
A$6,113.62
CHF 3,226.06
MX$73,526.82
NOK 40,695.54
SEK 37,873.65
DKK 25,808.88
About the Item
Birger Hjelm – Våreldar ("Spring Fires"), c. 1935-1938
Oil on board
unframed 80 x 84.5 cm (31 ½ x 33 ¼ in)
framed 82 x 87 cm (32 ¼ x 34 ¼ in)
Signed “Birger Hjelm” lower right; titled “Våreldar” lower left.
Våreldar ("Spring Fires") by Birger Hjelm depicts an early spring scene in rural Östergötland, Sweden, illuminated by the glow of seasonal bonfires. Slender birch trees rise in the foreground, their white trunks and delicate branches framing the view and just beginning to bud after the long winter. Beyond the birches, plumes of smoke ascend into a clear, cool sky from majbrasor – the traditional spring fires – that burn in the open fields. Near a cluster of rustic red farm buildings in the middle distance, a few small figures can be discerned working the land or tending the flames, their presence grounding the scene in quiet, everyday rural life. Hjelm’s palette balances the lingering chill of early spring – seen in the pale sky and the leafless trees – with the warmth of firelight and the emerging hints of fresh growth, evoking a mood of hope and renewal.
The title Våreldar, meaning "Spring Fires," directly references the Swedish custom of lighting bonfires to herald the arrival of spring. Such bonfires (majbrasor in Swedish) are traditionally lit around Walpurgis Night at the end of April, symbolizing the return of light and life after winter and the burning away of the old to make way for the new. Hjelm’s painting captures this cultural ritual in action: the rosy flames and wisps of smoke drifting across the twilight landscape signal the communal celebration of spring’s rebirth. The atmosphere is calm yet tinged with celebration – one can almost imagine the crackle of fire and the faint smell of smoke on a cool evening. The composition invites the viewer’s eye from the intimate texture of the birch bark in the foreground to the open expanse of farmland beyond, where fire and human activity dot the land, illustrating how nature and community jointly mark the seasonal transition. The tall birches flanking the scene serve not only as a natural frame but also as symbols of the season’s verge – still bare from winter yet on the cusp of new leaves, just as the fires mark the cusp of spring.
Birger Hjelm (1901–1979) was himself deeply rooted in the landscape of Östergötland. A native of Varv parish in that province, he devoted much of his art to portraying the forests, farmlands and changing seasons of his home region. Working in a naturalistic style, Hjelm captured forest and plain motifs in winter and early spring with fidelity to the subtle colors and light of the Swedish countryside. Våreldar is a superb example of this approach – a seasonal landscape rendered with attentive realism and affection for local tradition.
- Creator:Birger Hjelm (1901 - 1979, Swedish)
- Creation Year:c. 1935-1938
- Dimensions:Height: 31.5 in (80 cm)Width: 33.27 in (84.5 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:Very good condition with bright and clear colors. Ready to hang.
- Gallery Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1445216811612
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