Albert Larsson - Twilight Landscape with Windmill and Church

Albert Larsson  (1869-1952) Sweden

Twilight Landscape with Windmill and Church, 1891

oil on canvas
signed and dated a.L 91
unframed 31 x 48 cm (12.20 x 18.90 inches)
framed 38 x 54 cm (14.96 x 21.26 inches ​)

Provenance:
A Swedish private collection.

Essay:
"Twilight Landscape with Windmill and Church" is a captivating work by Swedish artist Albert Larsson, painted in 1891 when Larsson was 22 years old. The painting captures a landscape steeped in the quietude of dusk, with a sky ablaze in hues of red and orange, signalling the end of the day. The silhouettes of trees are rendered with astonishing detail against the twilight sky, showcasing Larsson's early mastery of light and shadow.

Dominating the pastoral scene is a traditional windmill, its blades stilled against the sky, alongside the spire of a church that pierces the horizon. These structures, together with the meticulously painted trees, are testaments to the human presence within the natural world, suggesting a harmony between the two.

A notable feature is the small water-filled furrow in the field, which catches the fading light of the sky, creating a pathway of reflection leading the eye through the composition. This detail highlights Larsson's skill in using light to draw attention to elements within his paintings.

Albert Larsson, born on November 4, 1869, in Malmö and passing on August 31, 1952, in Lund, was an artist deeply influenced by his education in Copenhagen at the Art Academy and later at Peder Severin Krøyer's painting school. Settling in Malmö from 1900, Larsson co-founded the Skånska konstnärslaget (Scanian Artists’ Association) and Skånes konstförening (Scanian Art Association). His role as a commissioner for the association's exhibitions across the region was pivotal.

Larsson's oeuvre is most cherished for its mood landscapes, which often capture the ethereal qualities of light over the Scandinavian terrain. His works, including "Moonlight over the Plain" at the Gothenburg Museum of Art and "A Farm at Dusk" at the Malmö Art Museum, exhibit his enduring fascination with the poetic interplay of light and atmosphere. "Twilight Landscape with Windmill and Church" stands as an early indication of his profound ability to evoke mood and place through his art, making it a prized piece for collectors of Scandinavian landscapes.