PCB Larsson, Carl

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Carl Larsson
The life of Carl Larsson was characterised by its contrasts which we can follow remarkably easy when taking his art work into consideration.
Born in 1853 in one of Stockholm’s poor quarters, Larsson experienced an extremely hard youth full of privation in poverty and misery and a father whom he hated all his life. For a boy of his background he had been lucky that one of his teachers made out his drawing ability. He made his way from this school for the poor to Stockholm’s art academy, from where he finally left towards a suburb of Paris, Grez. This place proved to become the turning point in his life. Here, he developed and perfected his water colour pinting technique for which he finally became world famous. From there on, Larsson’s paintings, in which he combined symbolistic elements with Japonisms preceding Art Noveau. started to draw ever increasing attention.
Karin Bergöö, a Swedish Artist whom he married in 1883 proved to be a true source of success and happines, both with regard to his art and private life. Since 1901, the family – the Larssons had seven offsprings – lived in Sundborn in Sweden and it was here that finally those pieces of art were created that have shaped and created the perception of Carl Larsson’s work. The water colour paintings created in Sundborn can be comprehended as painted declarations of love to his famliy and the happy, simple life they lead in the country. The way here produced this idyllic way of life true to life does notonly describe an utopian dream world but the truly existing harmonic reality of his family life surrounding him. Until his death, Larsson cherished the place and quitness of his natural idyll among his family, especially considering his rather horrible childhood and youth, and documented his contentedness and zest for life through his paintings. In January 1919, Carl Larsson died in Sundborn.