Carl Larsson (May 28, 1853 – January 22, 1919) was a Swedish painter and interior designer, representative of the Arts and Crafts Movement. His many paintings include oils, watercolors, and frescoes. Despite a difficult and poor childhood in Stockholm his artstic talent got him through art studies and led him to France where he also met his wife. He became indeed very much a family man, something that’s apparent in the book, “A Family” by Carl Larsson.
© Source. From the book “A Family” by Carl Larsson
Carl Larsson had eight children with his wife Karin, and his family became Larsson’s favourite models. Many of his watercolours are now popular all over the world. Their eight children included Suzanne (1884), Ulf (1887, who died at 18), Pontus (1888), Lisbeth (1891), Brita (1893), Mats (1894, who died at 2 months), Kersti (1896) and Esbjörn (1900).
© Nationalmuseum Stockholm. “Lisbeth fishing” by Carl Larsson 1898
The Larsson family lived in a small house, named Little Hyttnäs, in Sundborn Sweden. Through Larsson’s paintings and books this house has become one of the most famous artist’s homes in the world, representing a major line in Swedish interior design. The family still own this house and keep it open for tourists each summer from May until October.
© Nationalmuseum Stockholm. “Frukost under stora björken” by Carl Larsson 1896
One of the memories by Carl Larsson, published after his passing, he said about his paintings of the family, their home and life “became the most immediate and lasting part of my life’s work. For these pictures are of course a very genuine expression of my personality, of my deepest feelings, of all my limitless love for my wife and children.”
See more about Carl Larsson’s work and life at clg.se
“A family” by Carl Larsson, rep £12.99 is available from Floris Books in the UK.