Axel Fahlcrantz - Summer Evening at Vanadisvägen, Stockholm

Axel Fahlcrantz (1851-1925) Sweden

Summer Evening at Vanadisvägen, Stockholm

oil on wood panel
signed A.Fahlcrantz Stockholm
unframed 21 x 35 cm
framed 32.5 x 45.5 cm

Provenance: 
Fritzes Kungl. Hovbokhandel, Stockholm;
Acquired 1947 by Eline Allan Beskow;
Gift 1991 to Ann Beskow

Essay:

Axel Fahlcrantz’s "Summer Evening at Vanadisvägen, Stockholm" captures a serene sunset over the Vanadisvägen street in central Stockholm. The painting showcases Fahlcrantz's masterful use of color and light, creating a peaceful and evocative scene. This piece, known in Swedish as "Sommarafton vid Vanadisvägen, Stockholm" beautifully illustrates the tranquil atmosphere as the sun dips below the horizon, casting a warm glow over the landscape.

The Artist
Axel Fahlcrantz (September 5, 1851 - November 14, 1925) was a celebrated Swedish landscape painter, hailing from a family with deep artistic roots. His father, Christian Eric Fahlcrantz, was a bishop and writer, and his uncles were both prominent in the arts: Carl Johan Fahlcrantz was a landscape painter, and Axel Magnus Fahlcrantz was a sculptor and court carver. His brother, Carl Johan Fahlcrantz, was a notable book publisher who founded the Fahlcrantz & Co publishing house in 1877.
Fahlcrantz initially pursued studies to become a sculptor at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts from 1874 to 1876 but later shifted his focus to landscape painting under the mentorship of Per Daniel Holm and Edvard Perséus. He was elected a member of the Royal Academy of Free Arts in 1907, reflecting his significant contributions to Swedish art.

Fahlcrantz is renowned for his landscapes that often feature water and express the dramatic effects of weather. His paintings are distinguished by their atmospheric qualities, often depicting scenes of mist, twilight, and moonlight. He had a particular talent for capturing the moods of nature, whether it be a calm evening or an impending storm.

Fahlcrantz's works are well-represented in several prestigious collections, including the Gothenburg Museum of Art, the National Museum in Stockholm, and the Norrköping Art Museum.