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Olof ThunmanSandö, Wallda Varby, Halland, 19131913
1913
About the Item
Olof Thunman (1879–1944) Sweden
Sandö, Wallda Varby, Halland, 1913
oil on canvas (laid on panel)
unsigned
unframed 31 x 47 cm (approx. 12.2 x 18.5 in)
framed 42 x 58 cm (approx. 16.5 x 22.8 in)
Provenance: Gift from the artist to Professor Rutger Sernander (1866–1944), Uppsala, and subsequently gifted by Sernander to his daughter Stina Sernander in 1930.
Literature: Olof Thunmans Konst – Förteckning över genom Thunman-utställningen på Upplands nation 1–15 febr. 1942 kända arbeten av konstnären / med en inledning av Nils Ålenius (Uppsala: Almqvist & Wiksells, 1942), listed in the catalogue as no. 103, p. 7.
Essay:
This painting depicts a quiet rocky landscape with a still, reflective pond nestled among sparse vegetation. In the late-summer light of August 1913, Thunman rendered the terrain of Sandö in Halland with meticulous detail and a subdued color palette. The rocky ground and calm water dominate the scene, creating a tranquil atmosphere. Thunman’s confident handling of oil on canvas captures the texture of lichen-covered stone and the mirror-like surface of the pond, which reflects the pale sky above. The result is an intimate landscape study that conveys both the ruggedness and serenity of Sweden’s west coast. The work’s modest scale (just over 30 by 46 cm) draws the viewer in, as if to privately contemplate this coastal vista. On the reverse of the panel, Thunman inscribed the location and date – “Sandö, Wallda Varby, Halland. Aug. 1913” – along with a dedication indicating he “painted and gave” (pinxit et dedit) the piece to Professor Rutger Sernander, and a later note recording its gift to “Stina” in 1930. These personal notations offer a direct link between the painting and its early owners.
Olof Thunman was a Swedish painter and writer celebrated for his lyrical depictions of the Swedish landscape. Educated at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, he developed a style grounded in Naturalism and tinged with the emerging national romantic spirit of his time. Thunman was also a poet, and in both his art and poetry he focused on scenes from the Swedish countryside, especially his native province of Uppland in east-central Sweden. However, he traveled and painted across the country – from the Uppland archipelago to Västergötland and the West Coast – seeking out views that spoke to his love of nature. In the early 1900s he primarily worked in oils, often painting marine and coastal landscapes, before gradually shifting towards ink drawings and pastels in later years. Thunman’s artistic output is imbued with a deep reverence for Sweden’s natural and cultural heritage, a quality that resonated with many of his contemporaries. He balanced his dual talents in art and literature, at one point even mentoring the young troubadour Evert Taube in painting and poetry. By the time he painted Sandö, Halland 1913, Thunman was in his mid-thirties and in full command of his craft, adept at capturing the subtle atmosphere of a locale. This landscape, though outside his usual Uppland milieu, reflects the same attentive observation and gentle mood found in his best-known works.
The location depicted, Sandö in Halland, lies on Sweden’s southwest coast and is today part of the Vallda Sandö nature reserve. Contrary to its name (which means “Sand Island”), Vallda Sandö is actually a rocky peninsula characterized by coastal meadows, bare granite outcrops, and shallow bays. The northern Halland coast where Sandö is situated offers a mix of sandy beaches and smooth coastal cliffs, with hardy vegetation such as heather and juniper clinging to crevices in the rock. Thunman’s painting likely captures one of the peninsula’s small freshwater or brackish ponds, which periodically form in the low-lying areas near the shore. In the composition, the mirror-like pond serves as a focal point, reflecting the sky and accentuating the openness of the landscape. The sparse plants around the water – perhaps scrubby coastal grasses or heather – hint at the windswept environment typical of Halland’s shoreline. Although the scene is specific to Halland, its untamed natural beauty would have been familiar and meaningful to Swedish viewers of the time, aligning with a broader appreciation for the nation’s diverse landscapes. Sandö’s terrain, with its blend of rock, water, and sky, is emblematic of the Scandinavian coastal scenery that many artists of Thunman’s era sought to immortalize on canvas.
A particularly significant aspect of this work is its dedication to Professor Rutger Sernander (1866–1944), noted on the back. Sernander was a prominent botanist, geologist and a pioneer in Sweden’s early nature conservation movement. As a co-founder of the Swedish Society for Nature Conservation in 1909 and its early chairman, he championed the protection of natural landscapes and had a profound interest in the flora and ecology of regions like Uppland. Thunman and Sernander were close friends, connected by shared values and mutual respect. Both men were part of a generation that viewed the Swedish landscape as a wellspring of national identity and inspiration. Sernander in particular espoused a philosophy sometimes described as “nature-nationalism,” which blended scientific conservation with a love of country. This ethos found a kindred spirit in Thunman, whose art and poetry celebrated the “unrivaled Swedish countryside”. In fact, Sernander and Thunman were kindred souls in their devotion to the Uppland landscape – Sernander as a scientist and advocate, Thunman as an artist and poet – both sensing that traditional pastoral scenes were in danger of disappearing with modern changes. Their friendship extended into artistic patronage: Thunman gifted this painting to Sernander, presumably as a token of esteem and shared passion for nature’s beauty. One can imagine the botanist-professor treasuring this Halland seascape as a complement to his beloved Uppland fields – a reminder of Sweden’s varied environments worth cherishing. The inscription “Olle Thunman pinxit et dedit” (Latin for “Olle Thunman painted and gave [this]”) formalizes that gift, and the further note “Till Stina 27.5.1930 av pappa” shows that Sernander later passed the painting on to his daughter Stina in 1930. This chain of dedication and inheritance speaks to the personal value the artwork held: it was not only a landscape painting but also a memento of friendship and family legacy.
- Creator:Olof Thunman (1879 - 1944, Swedish)
- Creation Year:1913
- Dimensions:Height: 16.54 in (42 cm)Width: 22.84 in (58 cm)
- Medium:
- Movement & Style:
- Period:
- Condition:The painting is in very good condition, with bright and vibrant colours throughout. Presented in a newly fitted black frame.
- Gallery Location:Stockholm, SE
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1445216465522
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