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Ragnar Sandberg

(Sweden, 1902-1972)
Estimate
250 000 - 300 000 SEK
22 300 - 26 800 EUR
22 700 - 27 200 USD
Hammer price
310 000 SEK
Covered by droit de suite

By law, the buyer will pay an artist fee for this work of art. This fee is 5% of the hammer price, or less. For more information about this law:

Sweden: BUS
Finland: Kuvasto

Purchasing info
Image rights

The artworks in this database are protected by copyright and may not be reproduced without the permission of the rights holders. The artworks are reproduced in this database with a license from Bildupphovsrätt.

For condition report contact specialist
Lena Rydén
Stockholm
Lena Rydén
Head of Art, Specialist Modern and 19th century Art
+46 (0)707 78 35 71
Ragnar Sandberg
(Sweden, 1902-1972)

Cyclists

Signed R.S. Canvas 34.7 x 41 cm.

Literature

Ulf Linde, "Ragnar Sandberg", Sweden's General Art Association, 1979, cf. "Cyclist I" and "Cyclist II" 1936, illustrated pp. 16-17.

More information

The auction's painting Cyclists by Ragnar Sandberg, probably painted in the 1930s, is a brilliant example of his early artistry and ability to capture the vibrant energy of the city. The work is characterised by a characteristic play of colours, where a shimmering yellow tone interacts harmoniously with Sandberg's typical pink and green hues. By depicting the bicycles as silhouettes and the figures as partially abstracted, Sandberg shifts the focus to the movement and dynamics of the motif. It is the rhythm of the movement, rather than the detail, that gives the painting its life.
As a leading modernist and central figure in the Gothenburg Colourists, Sandberg was masterful in using colour as his primary means of expression. Inspired by artists such as Pierre Bonnard, he refined his colourist palette during this period, as is evident in Cyclists. Here, he uses the power of colour to create an atmosphere of light and joy, capturing the pulse and energy of the city in a way that feels both playful and lyrical.
The painting highlights Sandberg's unique ability to use colour and form to create a harmonious whole. Despite the often gloomy depictions of the city in the 1930s, he manages to emphasise the joy of life and movement, where the city appears as a place full of energy and optimism. Cyclists is a tribute to the rhythm of the city, a work that vibrates with life and shows Sandberg's artistic skill in transforming the everyday into something beautiful and alive.