Gottfrid Kallstenius - Evening in the Archipelago

Gottfrid Kallstenius (1861-1943) Sweden

Evening in the Archipelago

oil on canvas
signed G.kallstenius
unframed 88 x 103 cm (34.6 x 40.6 inches)
framed 103 x 118 cm (40.6 x 46.5 inches)

Provenance: 
A Swedish private collection.

Essay:
This painting by Gottfrid Kallstenius, titled "Evening in the Archipelago" ("Afton i skärgården"), captures the serene and atmospheric beauty of the Swedish archipelago, most likely inspired by the island of Borsö in the Trosa Archipelago. The scene, painted in soft hues of dusk, features a calm seascape bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, with a solitary tree standing near the water's edge, silhouetted against a tranquil sky. The painting reflects Kallstenius' skill in depicting light and nature, combining impressionistic elements with a unique Nordic sensibility.

Gottfrid Kallstenius returned to Sweden in 1894 after spending several years in France and Italy. In the summers of 1895-96, he and his wife Gerda Roosval-Kallstenius, along with their two children, stayed on Borsö, where they rented a cabin from a local fisherman and farmer. This stay was particularly influential for both artists, with Gerda creating the "Borsö Suite," a collection exhibited at the World’s Fair in Stockholm in 1897.

Kallstenius’ works often reflect his connection to the natural landscape and the changing light of the Scandinavian environment. This particular piece, with its reflective waters and the fading light of day, showcases his transition from a realist style to one that explores the emotional and atmospheric qualities of the landscape.