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Anniversary auctions at Bukowskis presenting 'Vårafton' by Carl Larsson


Bukowskis presents 'Vårafton" by Carl Larsson on the autumn's anniversary auction Important Winter Sale.

Carl Larsson's adorable depictions of his children have won the hearts of millions of viewers around the world. This applies in particular to the watercolours taken from the family's legendary home in the small village of Sundborn.

In 1894, Carl Larsson began to depict daily life in Sundborn in a series of highly personal watercolours. They were published in 1899 in the book "Ett hem" and were accompanied by a text aimed to transform home-interior. These new and healthy images of a family's life, in everyday life as well as in parties, were immediately seen as a concentrate of a Swedish ideal and they were followed by many more, in other books.

One of the sequels was the book "Larssons" which was published in 1902. The book's illustrations remained, as the title suggests, mainly around daily scenes related to the artist's family up in Sundborn. Spring evening is one of these watercolours which focuses on the peculiar beauty and relaxed well-being of the home. Carl Larsson's biographer Ulwa Neergaard gives the following description of the motif in "Carl Larsson. Signed with brush and pencil", 1999: "From this picture, where Kersti is playing in the yard with the dog Kicki, you get an idea of ​​what a wonderful place Lilla Hyttnäs in Sundborn was for a large family to live in. The farm, with its slope down to the river in Sundborn, had a high white slatted fence limiting the small children from falling into the water. With the small boat, tied to the small marina, it was easy to row out to Bullerholmen, which is to be seen on the other side of the water. Seating in the garden was arranged partly by using a simple board on movable frames, along with a green-painted garden sofa down by the shore. For afternoon coffee Carl Larsson had arranged a sitting group with a table in the middle of the courtyard. To the right, we see the brewery house, built in 1896, where the maidens had their rooms along with spaces for baking and laundry.

This depiction of the daughter Kersti and the dog Kicki has previously been exhibited on only one occasion. It is now for sale after being in a private collection for a long series of years.

Utropspris: 4 000 000 - 5 000 000 SEK / 391 773 - 489 716 EUR


Contact our specialists


Andreas Rydén
Stockholm
Andreas Rydén
Head Specialist, Art, Deputy Managing Director
+46 (0)728 58 71 39
Björn Extergren
Stockholm
Björn Extergren
Head of Consignment and Sales Department, Fine Art. Specialist Antique Furniture, Decorative Arts and Asian Ceramics
+46 (0)706 40 28 61

When is the viewing and auction?


Bukowskis Important Winter Sale
Viewing 4 – 9 december, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm, Opening hours: Mon–Fri kl 11–18, Sat–Sun kl 11–17
Auction 10 – 11 December, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm

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