Oil on Canvas Paintings Created By Finnish and Swedish Artists — Cris Ciani

Gallery Link: https://artsandculture.google.com/favorite/group/PgLiLsRdF9z8KA

Image Comments:

1.
The Wounded Angel, Hugo Simberg
Simberg was a Finnish symbolist painter. He was also a graphic artist. In the painting,
two young boys are carrying a wounded angel on a wooden stretcher. The boys look sad, and the
angel has a wounded wing. The angel also has a bandage over her eyes, and she is holding
snowdrops. Snowdrops are a symbol of rebirth and healing. The boys are carrying the angel
through Eläintarha, which is a real park in Helsinki. Töölönlahti Bay is in the background of the
painting.
Simberg uses colors to illustrate the sad and somber mood of the scene. The boy on the
left is dressed in all black. The boy on the right wears a brown coat, and his pants appear to be
either a very dark navy blue or black. Both boys have dark hair, and they are both wearing black
boots. The sky is grey. The angel is white, and her hair is blonde. The colors Simberg uses for
the angel create contrast against the dark colors in the painting. This makes the angel stand out.
The angel is clearly the emphasis/focus of the painting. Simberg also uses the principle of
balance. The two boys and the angel are in the foreground of the painting. There is a field with
a few flowers growing in it in the middle ground of the artwork, and Töölönlahti Bay is in the
background. There is one boy on either side of the angel.

2.
Annankatu on a Cold Winter Morning, Magnus Von Wright
Von Wright was a Swedish-Finnish painter. He was also an ornithologist and educator.
He was known for depicting birds and landscapes. The painting depicts Helsinki during what is
referred to as the Empire era.
Von Wright uses various colors to bring this work of art to life. He intentionally uses a
lot of blue, white, and yellow because these three colors were widely used during the Empire
era. Von Wright’s accuracy and attention to detail make the scene feel realistic. We can almost
hear the sound of the snow crunching beneath the boots of the people in the painting. We can
even see a ladder leaning up against one of the buildings. Von Wright illustrates the smoke
coming from the chimneys so well that it creates a sense of movement. We can almost see the
smoke moving from the chimneys up in to the sky.
Von Wright uses the principle of variety in the painting. He does not emphasize one
element over another. In the scene, we see different people and various buildings. We also see
snow-covered trees and snow on the ground. We even see wooden fences and two horses in the
painting. By including all of these elements in the painting, Von Wright allows us to take a
visual journey through the scene. Von Wright’s use of various elements and colors, his precise
attention to detail, and his realistic portrayal of the scene give the painting a sense of unity.
3.
Queen Bianca, Albert Edelfelt
Edelfelt was a Finnish painter. This painting, which depicts Queen Bianca and her son, is
an excellent example of Edelfelt’s naturalistic style. Naturalistic art portrays subjects
realistically in a natural setting, paying close attention to detail. Queen Bianca was King
Magnus Eriksson’s wife. She arranged for her son, Haakon, to marry Princess Margareta of
Denmark. In the painting, she is bouncing her young son on her knee. Queen Bianca’s face is
full of joy as she sings the wonderful news to Haakon.
Edelfelt’s attention to detail is so precise that we can see the smooth and silky texture of
Queen Bianca’s beautiful gown and the gold-colored accents on her red sleeves. We can even
see the detail of her headband, which appears to be adorned with circular beads. We can also see
the patterns on the wall in the right part of the background. Edelfelt also uses the principle of
proportion by keeping everything in the painting accurately-sized, which also contributes to the
painting’s sense of realism. Edelfelt’s meticulous attention to detail, along with his accurate
depiction of proportion, give the painting a sense of unity.

4.
Riddarfjärden, Stockholm, Eugène Jansson
Jansson was a Swedish painter. He was primarily known for painting night-time
cityscapes and landscapes. Jansson used various shades of blue so frequently in his depictions of
landscapes and cityscapes that he was often referred to as the “blue painter”.
Jansson uses colors to illustrate the mood of the night-time cityscape. He uses various
shades of purple and blue in the painting, which creates a serene and dream-like mood. The
brush strokes and colors he uses in the painting create a sense of movement. The brush strokes
he uses in the sky are very noticeable, which creates a sense of movement in the sky.
Additionally, Jansson illustrates the water so well that we can almost see the water flowing.
Jansson also uses the principle of balance. Everything is evenly distributed in the painting. The
even distribution of visual weight in the painting allows Jansson to achieve balance.

5.
Bringing Home the Body of King Karl XII of Sweden, Gustaf Cederström
Cederström was a Swedish painter. He was known for painting historical scenes and
portraits. This work of art is also referred to as Bringing Home the Body of King Charles XII of
Sweden. The king was actually named Charles, and he was also referred to as Carl or Karl. In
1718, King Charles XII was fatally shot. The painting is Cederström’s imaginative portrayal of
King Charles XII’s return to Sweden. In the painting, a group of men are carrying his body on a
stretcher.
Cederström’s precise attention to detail makes the painting realistic. We can see facial
expressions of the group of men, and we can see the buttons on their clothing. We can even see
that one of the men carrying the stretcher has a bandage on his head. We can tell that he was
wounded because there is some blood on the bandage. We can also see the design on the flag
that one of the men is carrying.
 Cederström’s painting illustrates the scene so well that it creates a sense of movement.
We can almost see the movement of the men walking as they carry the fallen hero’s body.
Cederström’s use of light and dark colors throughout the painting creates contrast. Cederström
also uses the principle of proportion to make the scene realistic. He keeps everything
accurately-sized. He does not exaggerate the size of any of the figures in the painting.

6.
A Fox Family, Bruno Liljefors
Liljefors was a Swedish artist. He was primarily known for his depiction of animals and
nature. He was also known for his sequential picture stories, and he is considered one of the first
comic creators.
Liljefors uses colors to make the foxes and their prey stand out from everything else in
the painting. He uses tan, brown, and hints of red for the foxes and white for the bird the foxes
are feasting on. He uses varying shades of green for the grass. The colors of the foxes and the
bird make them stand out against the green grass. Clearly, the foxes and their prey are the
emphasis/focus of the painting. Liljefors uses the principle of unity. The color schemes he uses
and his attention to minor details, such as the flowers and dandelions, give the painting a sense of
harmony and completeness.

7.
The Lady with the Veil (the Artist’s Wife), Alexander Roslin
Roslin was a Swedish portrait painter. Roslin was known for the way he combined the
Classicist and Rococo styles in his artwork. The classicist style of art was heavily influenced by
Greek and Roman art. Rococo art was characterized by its elaborate ornamentation and
theatrical style.
The woman in the portrait is Roslin’s wife, Marie Suzanne Giroust. The black veil
partially hides Marie’s face. Even though she is smiling, she seems like she wants to stay
secretive. Marie is holding a fan. In Roslin’s time, fans were more than just an accessory
women had at social gatherings. People used fans to relay messages in secret. Fans were
opened, closed, held, and twirled in different ways. There was a specific meaning behind each
gesture. If a woman folded her fan and drew it across her cheek, this was supposedly her way of
saying “I love you”.
Roslin’s attention to detail is evident in the painting. We can see the wrinkles in Marie’s
veil and its silky, smooth texture. We can see the rosiness in her cheeks. We can also see the
patterns on her fan. Roslin uses the element of color in the painting. Marie is wearing a black
veil. Beneath the veil, she is dressed up in Bolognese-style clothing. She is wearing pink silk
and white lace. The black veil and the light clothes she is wearing create contrast.

8.
Heimdall returns Brisingamen to Freyja, Nils Jakob Blommér
Blommér was a Swedish painter. Blommér was known for depicting scenes from Norse
mythology and folklore in his art. The Norse goddess Freyja is associated with love, beauty,
fertility, and magic. She owns a beautiful necklace called the Brisingamen, which was stolen by
the god Loki. Freyja asked the god Heimdall to help her retrieve the Brisingamen. Heimdall is
in charge of guarding Bifrost. Bifrost is the rainbow bridge that connects Asgard to Earth.
Heimdall defeated Loki. In the painting, Heimdall returns the Brisingamen to Freyja.
Blommér uses color to make Freyja and Heimdall stand out from everything else in the
painting. The body of Freyja’s dress is red and blue, while the sleeves are lightly-colored. Her
dress also has gold accents and a brown belt. Freyja is also wearing a gold crown and gold
bracelets. Blommér uses silver and gold for Heimdall’s helmet. The silver blade of Heimdall’s
sword stands out against his lightly-colored gown.
Blommér’s meticulous attention to detail can be seen in several areas of the painting. We
can see the braids in Freyja’s hair. If we look closely, we can see that the hilt (handle) of
Heimdall’s sword has a design that appears to resemble a human head. We can also see that
Heimdall has his horn with him. We can even see the rosiness in the cheeks of every figure in
the painting. There are various patterns in the painting. We can see the patterns on the rug
beneath Freyja’s feet and the patterns on the back of her chair. We can also see the patterns on
the inner vertical columns that are on either side of the wall that her chair sits in front of. We can
even see the patterns on Heimdall’s helmet. Blommér’s use of color, attention to precise details,
and his decision to place the two other people in the painting a little farther off to the left in the
painting make Freyja and Heimdall stand out. It’s clear that Freyja and Heimdall are the
emphasis/focus of the painting.

9.
Waterfall in Småland, Marcus Larson
Larson was a Swedish painter known for depicting landscapes. He was considered to be
one of the most outstanding of the Swedish Düsseldorf painters. The Düsseldorf painters are a
group of painters that attended the famous Düsseldorf School. Düsseldorf painters were known
for depicting Romantic landscapes and scenes from the lives of commoners. They were also
known for portraying genre motifs, such as bourgeois interiors.
Larson uses color and shape to make the scene realistic. The way he illustrates the color
of the waterfall makes it stand out from the rocks that appear on either side of it. The colors that
Larson uses throughout the painting make the scene appear dramatic. The rocks in the painting
have various shapes and sizes. The way that Larson illustrates the scene creates movement. We
can almost see the clouds moving in the sky and the waterfall flowing. Larson’s ability to bring
the scene to life showcases the power of nature.

10.
Tor’s Fight with the Giants, Mårten Eskil Winge
Winge was a Swedish artist and professor. He taught at the Royal Swedish Academy of
Arts. Norse mythology was a major influence on his art. Tor, who is also referred to as Thor, is
a Norse god. Tor is associated with lightning, thunder, and strength. In the painting, Tor is
riding in his chariot. Goats are pulling his chariot as he battles evil. Tor is wielding his hammer
and wearing his belt of power.
Winge uses light and dark colors in the painting to create contrast. Tor’s red robe, gold
belt, and blonde hair make him stand out in the painting. The black fur of the goats make them
stand out as well. The work of art is so detailed that we can see the patterns on Tor’s robe and
belt. Winge illustrates the painting so well that he creates movement. We can almost see the
lightning moving, ready to strike anything in its path.
References

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Cederström, G. (1884). Bringing Home the Body of King Karl XII of Sweden [Oil on canvas].
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Edelfelt, A. (1877). Queen Bianca [Oil on canvas]. Retrieved from https://

artsandculture.google.com/asset/queen-bianca-albert-edelfelt/LwF9CGZd0hkiaw

Experience Dramatic Movements in Swedish History or Step into Tranquil Interiors from
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goteborgskonstmuseum.se/en/the-collection/nordic-19th-century-2/

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artsandculture.google.com/asset/riddarfj%C3%A4rden-stockholm-eug%C3%A8ne-
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Lovely, K. (2019, September 10). Freyja: Norse Goddess of Love, Witchcraft, and War.
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Starp, A. (2018, April 24). The Secret Language of Fans. Sotheby’s. Retrieved from https://
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Winge, M. (1872). Tor’s Fight with the Giants [Oil on canvas]. Retrieved from https://
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