Alfred Bergström - Sunrise over the Fields

Alfred Bergström (1869-1930) Swedish

Sunrise over the Fields

oil on canvas
signed and dated Alfr Bergström -02
canvas dimensions 20.47 x 26.37 inches (52 x 67 cm)
frame 24.60 x 30.70 inches (62.5 x 78 cm)

Essay:
Alfred Bergström (1869 - 1930) was a prominent Swedish artist and professor at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. He honed his artistic skills through studies both in Sweden and France, including the Academy of Fine Arts in Sweden, where he earned a prestigious Royal Medal.

Bergström achieved recognition primarily for his exceptional talent in capturing landscapes. In fact, he served as a landscape painting instructor at the Art Academy in Stockholm from 1898 to 1901. Just one year later, he created this beautiful landscape titled "Sunrise over the Fields." It showcases his impressive ability to depict sunrises with warm and vibrant colors, accompanied by a remarkable three-dimensionality in the composition. This atmospheric quality became his distinguishing feature within his landscape works.

Deeply influenced by the French Impressionist movement, Bergström incorporated elements of this artistic style into his own creations. In "Sunrise over the Fields," we can discern his inspired approach derived from the movement. The painting presents a foreground of a harvest field, while a serene lake reflects the early morning sky, brilliantly capturing the essence of a sunrise.

Although the exact location where this artwork was painted remains elusive, it is most likely situated in the countryside close to Stockholm. Notably, the Nationalmuseum Stockholm has a similar painting titled "Sommarkväll" (Summer Evening) from the same year, 1902.

Provenance: 
A private collection Storängen, Stockholm, 1914. 

Literature:
Konst i svenska hem i ord och bilder, 1914, no 2, illustrated on page 193.