Harry Booström, "Svart måne"
Signed and dated HBooström -47 and also signed and dated HBooström Visby -47 on the reverse. Oil on canvas, 65 x 80 cm.
Harry Broström was discovered by a true legend in the Stockholm art world in 1948. That year, Harry Booström made his Stockholm debut at Agnes Widlund's gallery, “Konstsalongen Samlaren” at Birger Jarlsgatan 1.
As an avant-garde gallerist, Agnes Widlund (1910-2005) went down in history, showing art from 1943-1977 by Carl Kylberg, Helmer Osslund, Lage Lindell, Harry Booström and Olle Baertling, among others, as well as international greats such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Paul Klee and Henry Moore. Renowned art collector Theodor (Teto) Ahrenberg created a world-class art collection with Agnes Widlund's help. This included Henri Matisse's collage Apollo, which is now on display at Moderna Museet.
Harry Booström received his artistic training at Isaac Grünewald's painting school during the years 1941-45. Thereafter, Harry Booström made several study trips to France and Paris, among other places. Over the years, Harry Booström participated in a number of acclaimed exhibitions, including Høstudstillingen/Den Frie Udstilling in Copenhagen, Espace, Stockholm, Réalités Nouvelles, Paris, and Stockholmskonkretisterna in Halmstad. Harry Booström was a member of the international Groupe Espace, which promoted greater collaboration between artist and architect.
Harry Booström is represented at several art museums in Sweden. Moderna Museet in Stockholm owns seven works by Harry Booström.
HM King Gustaf VI Adolf was a devoted collector of modern art. In his will, HM King Gustaf VI Adolf (1882-1973) donated four works by Harry Booström to Moderna Museet.
The artist Harry Booström (1917-1996) is often proclaimed to have been a dreamer and concretist. His artistic studies were conducted at Edward Berggren's and Isaac Grünewald's painting schools from 1941 to 1945. Booström was a contemporary of the "1947 års män" group and, like them, was inspired by the early concrete tradition.
After his studies Booström travelled to Denmark, where he resided for a period, yet still made time to travel to Holland and France. In 1948 Booström moved to Stockholm but spent the summer months on the island of Gotland, where he had spent his youth. The nature there was of great inspiration Transitioning from abstract style in the 1950s, he moved towards a purely non-representational, concrete art with geometric basic forms. In the interplay between form and color, warm and cold tones, he achieved both dynamism and movement in his compositions.
Harry Booström had his debut in 1948 at Samlaren where throught his years he took part in several highly important exhibitions such as a Høstudstillingen / Den Frie Udstilling, Copenhagen, Espace, Stockholm, Réalités Nouvelles, Paris, and Stockholmskonkretisterna, Halmstad. Booström was also an active member in the international Groupe Espace, which advocated for expanded collaboration between artists and architects. Together with the architect Bertil Ahlqvist, Booström decided upon the colour of row houses in Visby.