Rikard Lindström - Silent Interior

Rikard Lindström (1882–1942)

Silent Interior

oil on canvas mounted on board
signed lower right
framed: 50 x 58 cm (19.69 x 22.83 inches)
unframed: 39 x 47 cm (visible image) (15.35 x 18.5 inches)

Essay:
This interior painting by Swedish artist Rikard Lindström depicts a quiet interior scene featuring a fireplace with a faintly glowing bed of embers. Light gently filters in from the adjacent room, casting soft shadows on the floor and creating a captivating atmosphere. The moody, dimly lit setting recalls the intimate interior scenes of Vilhelm Hammershøi, suggesting Lindström may have drawn inspiration from his work. Likely painted in the early 1900s during Lindström's time at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, the piece reveals his deft handling of light and shadow, which lends the scene a serene, almost meditative quality.

Rikard Lindström, born in Stockholm on September 28, 1882, was a versatile artist known for his maritime landscapes, particularly of the Stockholm archipelago and the rugged coasts of Scandinavia. He studied at the Stockholm Academy and under the Danish artist Kristian Zahrtmann in Copenhagen, where he refined his skills in capturing light and atmosphere. Though he is most recognized for his seascapes, this interior painting showcases his broader range and mastery of mood.