Elias Erdtman

The River Silverån in Hässleby, Sweden, Plein air

1883

A view of Stockholm painted from the Royal Park of Djurgården and overlooking the small island of Kastellholmen painted by Alfred Bergström (1869-1930) The church visible in the background is Katharina church, built in 1695, located in Södermalm, Stockholm. Signed: Alfr. Bergström, 1887. Oil on canvas. A very early work by Bergström when he was only 18 years old. Painted en plein air, probably during the late autumn or early winter of 1887 when he did his first year of study at the Royal Art Academy. Alfred Maurits Bergström was a Swedish artist and professor at the Royal Academy of Arts. He was a painter, watercolorist and etcher. During the years 1887–1891 he studied at the Academy and won the Royal Medal...

Oil study by a lake and mountains during sunset by Edward Rosenberg (1858-1934). This is a an oil study for a larger painting that Rosenberg did. A te...

"After the Storm" is the title of this oil painting on canvas by the Swedish artist Hjalmar Berghcrantz (1889–1961). Signed and dated 1917. The artwork depicts a rugged landscape whe...

A quiet mountain winter landscape called "Winter road" or as it is written on the back in Swedish "Vinterväg" and “Vinterlandskap from Granberget at Rämen, Värmland", Gran-mountain ...

This intimate plein air study by Olof Arborelius captures the quiet beauty of a sunlit forest edge reflected in still water. The confident, spontaneous brushwork and delicate handlin...

Olof Arborelius (1842-1915) Sweden Landscape, likely from the Uddevalla area oil on canvas signed O.Arb.s  unframed: 25 x 35 cm (9 7/8 x 13 3/4 in) framed: 43.5 x 53 cm (17 1/8 x 2...

Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller (1855 Amsterdam - 1925 ibid.), Late Summer River Landscape, oil on canvas, relined, 34 x 56 cm (inside measurement), 43 x 64 cm (frame), signed J[an] H[illebrand] Wijsmuller at lower right. - in good condition, the frame with isolated bumped spots - Realistic Impression - About the artwork The panoramic landscape format shows a river landscape, with the course of the river, which curves to the right, leading the eye into the depths of the picture and tempting it to continue the landscape in the imagination beyond the visible area. At the same time, however, the fact that the landscape is not visible through the bend in the river focuses our gaze on the entirety of the landscape depicted, without prompting us to focus on distant details. Accordingly, the brushstroke is not designed to render details with realistic precision. In the front left area of the river there is even a completely free brushwork, trained by Impressionism, which nevertheless remains committed to representational and convincingly suggests the movement of the water. Regardless of the distance of the observer, the entire picture is painted with the same broad brushstroke, so that the landscape is given as an impression. And yet this impression is not ephemeral, as in the case of French Impressionism, to put it exaggeratedly, but reveals to us the essence of the landscape in all its richness. This is why the Dutch variant of Impressionism is always also a realism, although the pictures appear less progressive, but still contain a dimension of landscape painting that is lost with progress. In the impression, the reality of the landscape is revealed, and this happens as we experience the landscape in the visual impression. Wijsmuller does not depict houses or people in order to allow the experience of the landscape to fully unfold. The experience is determined first and foremost by the river, which does not flow into the picture from our point of view, but towards us. Where the river begins to bend, the water is churned by a rapids. Toward us, the riverbed widens and the water comes to rest, covering the entire width of the foreground like a mirror. The stillness of the water corresponds to the evening mood of the late summer landscape, in which the warm tones of the evening light blend with the yellow and brown tones of the plants. A gentle, almost idyllic reality, carried by the brushstroke, yet animated by a liveliness that is also made visible by the brushstroke. The broad, dynamically placed brushstrokes evoke the movement of the treetops and animate even the immobile reeds, while the trunks on the right bank, executed in virtuoso white strokes that seem like markings, make the sunlight shine. On the other bank, a carpet of light also spreads out, its energetic effect again expressed in the brushstroke. The dynamic of the landscape is further enhanced by the complementary color contrasts between the greens, yellows, and browns on the one hand and the blue of the all-encompassing sky on the other. A contrast that is intensified by the reflection in the water. The evening coming to rest of the landscape is thus at the same time an all-encompassing contrasting and yet in itself harmonious movement. This reality becomes accessible to us as an experience in the impression of the landscape. About the artist Jan Hillebrand Wijsmuller entered the Royal Academy of Arts in Amsterdam in 1876 and studied under the innovative Professor August Allebé, who was famous for the Amsterdam Impressionism, also known as the Allebé School. In 1877, Wijsmuller transferred to the Hague Academy of Art, and thus to the Hague School, and then completed his studies at the Brussels Academy of Art. Returning to the Netherlands, Wijsmuller opened his own studio in Amsterdam. In 1883 he won the prestigious Young Artist Award, donated by Willink van Collen, which made Wijsmuller a well-known and sought-after artist. Wijsmuller was a member of the Societät Arti et Amicitiae Amsterdam and the Pulchri Studio in The Hague. Wijsmuller belongs to the second generation of the Hague School. While Vincent van Gogh described the protagonists of the first generation to his brother Theo as "the great gray people," the second generation, and Wijsmuller in particular, used a much more colorful palette. His oeuvre makes him a major player in Dutch Impressionism...

Axel Zachrison was a Swedish painter known for his landscapes from Dalsland. Born in Tydje, Dalsland, Zachrison's artistic journey was shaped by his experiences at sea and his encounters with influential artists such as Otto Hesselbom, a relative on his mother's side. This captivating landscape painting titled "Landscape from Dalsland, Sweden" showcases Zachrison's artistic talent and his ability to capture the beauty of nature. The sky, painted in shades of white and gray, features distinct lines around the clouds add a sense of movement and depth to the scene, reminiscent of Hesselbom's painting technique. In the background, we can see some blue mountains, their majestic presence contributing to the overall sense of grandeur. And In the left part, the viewer can see some land illuminated by the warm rays of the afternoon sun. The vibrant colors of orange, green, and yellow bring the landscape to life, infusing it with a sense of vitality and serenity. A shimmering body of water in the the center, reflecting the luminous white light and creating captivating mirror-like reflections. The foreground of the painting consists of a darker forest area which skillfully framing the lower part of the composition. This deliberate contrast adds depth and visual interest to the artwork, drawing the viewer's attention to the enchanting scenery. It's undated but likely executed in the 1920s, the painting carries an undeniable "wow" factor upon first sight. Zachrison's skillful brushwork and his masterful use of decorative color choices create a captivating and immersive experience for the viewer. His ability to evoke emotional responses through his art is a testament to his talent and artistic vision. Zachrison studied under the guidance of renowned artist Carl Wilhelmson...