Carl Larsson

Daddy's Room, 1895, Carl Larsson

Azalea, 1906, Carl Larsson

Playing Scales, Carl Larsson

Under the Birches, 1902, Carl Larsson

The Old Man and the Nursery Garden, Carl Larsson, 19??, Nationalmuseum, SWE

In the Kitchen Garden, Carl Larsson, 19??, Nationalmuseum, SWE

The vegetable patch is bathed in sunlight. Carl Larsson’s portrayal of light is so realistic that we almost share the girl’s experience of being blinded by it. There is not much shade in this picture. That is because the sun is high in the sky, but the artist has probably also chosen to leave it out to maximize the effect of strong sunlight. The painting was made in the international artist colony in Grez-sur-Loing south of Paris, where Larsson developed his watercolour technique in 1883–1884, in lighting conditions that were different from Sweden.

Old Anna. From A Home (26 watercolours), Carl Larsson, Nationalmuseum, SWE

Carl and Karin Larsson combined new design with old traditions. Practicality dictated their interior design, but it was equally important that furniture and objects form an attractive harmony. This ideal was also propagated by others, including Ellen Key, who advocated homes that were in a new and light style, in her essay “Skönhet för alla” (Beauty for All) in 1899. The Larssons moved to Lilla Hyttnäs, a house in Sundborn, in the summer of 1889. Here, Carl and Karin together created the interiors that made their home famous. Karin designed the furniture and textiles, which she embroidered and wove. A studio was fitted up in one of the hallways. It features many eye-catching details, including the funny man crowning a column. When a larger studio extension was added, this room became a workshop for the whole family. The interiors of the Larsson home were characterised by rural simplicity. Nevertheless, every detail was carefully designed, with influences from England, Scotland and Japan. The kitchen, which was first and foremost a place for household chores, did not display the same modern interior style and comfort as the rest of the house.

Model Writing Postcards, 1906, Carl Larsson

Mamma's and the Small Girls' Room. From A Home (26 watercolours), Carl Larsson, Nationalmuseum, SWE

Carl and Karin Larsson combined new design with old traditions. Practicality dictated their interior design, but it was equally important that furniture and objects form an attractive harmony. This ideal was also propagated by others, including Ellen Key, who advocated homes that were in a new and light style, in her essay “Skönhet för alla” (Beauty for All) in 1899. The Larssons moved to Lilla Hyttnäs, a house in Sundborn, in the summer of 1889. Here, Carl and Karin together created the interiors that made their home famous. Karin designed the furniture and textiles, which she embroidered and wove. A studio was fitted up in one of the hallways. It features many eye-catching details, including the funny man crowning a column. When a larger studio extension was added, this room became a workshop for the whole family. The interiors of the Larsson home were characterised by rural simplicity. Nevertheless, every detail was carefully designed, with influences from England, Scotland and Japan. The kitchen, which was first and foremost a place for household chores, did not display the same modern interior style and comfort as the rest of the house.

The Entry of King Gustav Vasa of Sweden into Stockholm, 1523, Carl Larsson, 20??, Nationalmuseum, SWE