Bukowskis is proud to present "Nu är det jul igen" (Now it's Christmas again) by Carl Larsson at this fall's exceptional auction – Important Winter Sale.
Carl Larsson's beloved composition perpetuates the so-called Christmas breakfast on Christmas Eve in 1906. The Christmas celebration took place in the large studio, with which Lilla Hyttnäs in Sundborn had been expanded in 1899. In addition to the Larsson family were close relatives and employees self-written participants.
Among the depicted persons are, among others (from left to right): the kitchen Hilma Sundgren, who is dressed in Sundborn costume comes in with refills from the kitchen; Kersti Kvarnberg (often called Mother Kersti, wife of the judge at Spadarvet), who has sat on the edge of the fireplace in the foreground; Carl Larsson's father, Olof Larsson, has been placed in the armchair at the end of the table, where Karin Larsson, the hostess of the house, ensures that he and other guests get something on the plates. Close by, Brita glimpses, which in honor of Christmas Eve is dressed in Sundborn costume, where she plays a melody on the grand piano. On the same side of the long table, with his back to the large studio window, Pontus fills his plate. On the opposite side of the table, out in the room itself, Kersti, in a red dress, extends the bread basket to Erik Kvarnberg, judge at Spadarvet, who is dressed in Bodad uniform.
Central to the composition is the cook Anna Arnberg, in Sundborns outfits, on her way out for more beer while Bodakullan Brita Kvarnberg, daughter of Mor Kersti and Erik Kvarnberg, turns his back and little Esbjörn, who provided himself with a sandwich, only has eyes for the Christmas tree light candles and ornaments. The girl behind Esbjörn, dressed in Sundborn costume, is the helper Martina, who has just stopped next to Johan, Carl Larsson's judge on Spadarvet before Kvarnbergs from Boda, who is half hidden behind the Christmas tree.
Although the watercolor is dated 1907, Ulwa Neergaard (Carl and Karin Larsson's grandchildren) in his 1999 book says that it was painted precisely on Christmas 1906. The watercolor was then the basis for the monumental tripe in oil (180 x 456 cm), which Carl Larsson worked from Christmas 1906 until the end of February the following year, which since 1908 is included in the collections at the Helsingborg Museum.
The present watercolor has been exhibited, among other things, at the inauguration of Liljevalchs Konsthall in Stockholm in 1916 and at the prestigious exhibition, "Carl Larsson", at The Brooklyn Museum in New York 1982-1983.
Viewing: 5–10 December at Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm
Opening hours: Mon – Fri 11 AM – 6 PM, Sat–Sun 11 AM – 5 PM
Auction: 11–12 December at Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm