Oskar Bergman - Plains Landscape

Oskar Bergman (1879-1963) Sweden

Plains Landscape (Swedish: Slättlandskap)

watercolor on paper 
signed Oskar Bergman.
unframed 8 x 6 cm
visible image 7 x 5,5 cm
framed 21.5 x 19.5

Provenance: 
A Swedish private collection. 

Essay:
This exquisite "miniature" watercolor by Oskar Bergman entitled "Plains Landscape" is a true marvel of detail and composition, especially considering its diminutive size of merely 7 x 5.5 cm. The artwork captures a serene autumnal scene of a flat agricultural landscape. In the foreground, three birch trees stand tall with their leaves turning yellow, signaling the onset of fall. The background is adorned with rolling blue hills dotted with a few houses, one of which resembles a chapel or church, providing a sense of rural tranquility. The sky above is a clear, vibrant blue, completing the idyllic scene.

Oskar Bergman, born on October 18, 1879, in Stockholm and passed away on July 20, 1963, in Saltsjöbaden, was a renowned Swedish painter and printmaker. He excelled in watercolor and gouache, bringing to life the landscapes of central Sweden with a realistic touch and meticulous attention to detail. Bergman was self-taught yet enhanced his craft through numerous study trips across Europe. His works have been honored with representation in prestigious collections such as the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Thielska Galleriet, Norrköping's Konstmuseum, Örebro Stadsmuseum, and the Malmö Museum.

Bergman spent a significant portion of his life near Neglinge farm in Saltsjöbaden, where he eventually was laid to rest in the local cemetery on Skogsö. He was the brother of the actor and theatre director Axel Bergman. Oskar Bergman's legacy is that of a dedicated artist who portrayed the Swedish landscape with both love and precision, a legacy that continues to be celebrated and cherished through his art.