Harry Booström, Untitled
Signed H. Booström and dated Gudhjem -46 verso. Canvas 71 x 61 cm.
Good condition.
In the auction's painting, dated 1946, Harry Booström's palette is characterized by fiery colors and undulating expressive brushstrokes.
This painting bears traces of inspiration from paintings by the Dane Asger Jorn from the same period.
During the year 1946, the Dane Asger Jorn traveled around Sweden to seek artistic inspiration and obtain a personal change of scenery. Harry Booström probably received several impressions from Asger Jorn's paintings at this time and vice versa. Two years later (1948) Asger Jorn had his first Paris exhibition, at Galerie Breteau.
Harry Booström was discovered that same year, 1948, by a future legend in the Stockholm gallery and art scene. In 1948, Harry Booström made his debut at Agnes Widlund's gallery, "Konstsalongen Samlaren" at Birger Jarlsgatan 1.
Agnes Widlund (1910-2005) became an established legend and avant-garde gallery owner in Stockholm. Between 1943 and 1977, Widlund presented exhibitions by Carl Kylberg, Helmer Osslund, Lage Lindell, Harry Booström and Olle Baertling, as well as exhibitions by international artists such as Picasso, Matisse, Chagall, Paul Klee and Henry Moore. With Agnes Widlund's help, the art collector Theodor (Teto) Ahrenberg acquired a world-class art collection. His collection included Henri Matisse's artwork "Apollon", which is today at the Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
Harry Booström received artistic education at Isaac Grünewald's painting school between 1941 and 1945. Harry Booström then made several study trips to France, among other places.
Over the years, Harry Booström has participated in a number of notable exhibitions, including Høstudstillingen/Den Frie Udstilling in Copenhagen, Espace in Stockholm, Réalités Nouvelles in Paris and the exhibition "Stockholmskonkretisterna" in Halmstad.
Harry Booström was a member of the international art group Groupe Espace, which worked for increased collaboration between artist and architect.
Harry Booström is represented at several museums in Sweden.
Moderna Museet in Stockholm owns seven artworks 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 artworks by Harry Booström to Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
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.