August Jansson (1851-1915) Portrait of a Woman Wrapped in a White Shawl

August Jansson (1851-1915) Sweden

Portrait of a Woman Wrapped in a White Shawl

oil painting on canvas
signed and dated A.Jansson 74
unframed 65 x 54 cm
framed 79 x 67.5 cm

Provenance:
A Swedish private collection.

Essay:
We are pleased to present this evocative portrait by August Jansson, created in 1874 during his studies at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. The young woman in the painting, wrapped in a white shawl, gazes downward with a pensive expression. The subtle interplay of light and shadow, along with the delicate handling of her dark hair and serene face, invites us to wonder what thoughts occupy her mind. The portrait captures a moment of introspection, skillfully rendered by a young artist on the cusp of his professional career.

About the Artist: August Jansson

August Fredrik Jansson, born on July 17, 1851, in Västerås, and passed away on December 16, 1915, in Örnsköldsvik, was a Swedish painter and drawing teacher. He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm from 1873 to 1878. After completing his studies, he worked as a drawing teacher in Visby during the 1880s. Jansson moved to Örnsköldsvik in 1891, where he became the first professionally trained artist to make a living from his art in the Nolaskog region. He spent the rest of his life there, painting full-time and capturing the local landscapes and seascapes of the Örnsköldsvik archipelago and the Norrland mountains.

Jansson's early works, such as this portrait, mainly included portraits and landscape depictions. However, after his relocation to Örnsköldsvik, he primarily focused on scenes from the local scenery. Among his notable works are three paintings for the altar in Örnsköldsvik Church, later moved to the Örnsköldsvik Parish House. A memorial exhibition of his art was held in Örnsköldsvik in 1934.

A Challenging Journey

August Jansson's life was marked by personal and professional challenges. As a homosexual man, he faced significant societal prejudice, which led to his temporary exile from the region. Despite these hardships, he found solace in the natural beauty of Nolaskog and eventually returned, earning forgiveness from the community.