Swans

Swans

1897

Oil on canvas

Mått 184,50 x 240,00 cm Ram 192,50 x 245,50 x 5,00 cm

GKM 2013-74

Bequest of Gustaf Werner (1859–1948) to the City of Gothenburg. Transferred to the Gothenburg Museum of Art in 2013.

Swans is a captivating and mysterious painting. The impressive dimensions of the work are almost frightening with its overwhelming blackness and dramatic composition. Against the dark clump of reeds shines the orange water, where two white swans slowly glide by, like fire. The painting was executed in 1897 when romantic nationalism dominated Swedish art. During this period Liljefors approached symbolism. Here, realism has been pushed into the background in favour of nature mysticism.

Göteborg, Göteborgs konstmuseum, 07/09/2013 - 17/11/2013

Annick Lemoine et al., Bruno Liljefors. La suède suvage, red. Sandra Buratti-Hasan och Carl-Johan Olsson, Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville Paris, Paris, 2024., ill. p. 27