Many of Ernst Billgren’s paintings depict nature and interiors where
animals have taken over and no humans are to be seen. Still, in the auction’s
painting, Diana has been given a central place in the composition and her
figure fills up the entire canvas.
What characterizes Ernst Billgren is his reckless way of challenging conventional
notions of what constitutes good art. He mixes fine painting with
kitsch and lets animals and birds into homes and ballrooms as if there had
never been any boundaries. The artworks often combine historical symbols
with commercial perceptions of art to investigate artistic conventions.
Ernst Billgren's artistry is characterized by a diversity that
is unique in Swedish art life. His artistic production covers such widely
different disciplines as painting, sculpture, scenography, fiction, film, music
and furniture design. Throughout these different genres, there
are clear characteristics such as his interest in
nature paintings, romanticism, and the
mythological sphere.