Hilding Werner - Aurora Borealis (Norrsken)

Hilding Werner (1880-1944) Sweden

Aurora Borealis
Swedish original title: Norrsken

oil on canvas
signed H.Werner
unframed 52.5 x 68.5 cm
framed 68 x 84 cm

Provenance: 
Sothebys London, 15 mar 1989, "Aurora Borealis", lot 214;
A private collection Arvika, Sweden.

Condition: 
Very good condition, the surface is recently cleaned.
New gold frame included. 

Comparable Sales: 

Sothebys New York, 22 May 2024, lot 17, Final price 31.200 USD. 

Essay:
We are pleased to present this exquisite painting, titled Aurora Borealis (originally titled Norrsken by the artist), created by the Swedish painter Hilding Werner. In this captivating winter scene, Werner masterfully captures the serene beauty of a snowy landscape illuminated by the soft, ethereal glow of the northern lights. The delicate blue and white hues evoke the quiet majesty of a Scandinavian winter night, transporting the viewer to a world of tranquility and wonder.

Hilding Werner (1880–1944) was a talented Swedish painter and illustrator, born in Kårud, Värmland. He studied at Caleb Althin's painting school in Stockholm and supported himself with caricatures in Nya Nisse. His friendship with Bror Lindh led to his enrollment in the Artists' Association’s painting school, where he studied under the mentorship of prominent artists like Richard Bergh. In 1905, he embarked on a study trip to the Netherlands, after which he settled in Stömne, Värmland, establishing a studio in Hammartjärnet.

Werner was a member of the artist collective De Frie and participated in exhibitions with the Värmland Art Association, as well as in Norrköping, Lund, and Arvika. Although he did not hold a solo exhibition in his lifetime, his work was honored in a commemorative exhibition at the Värmland Museum in 1946. A major influence on his art was his interaction with Gustaf Fjæstad, whose romantic and realistic landscapes deeply inspired him. A 1912 boat trip with Fjæstad and Bror Lindh to visit Otto Hesselbom in Säffle profoundly impacted Werner's artistic direction.