Fritz Lindström (1874-1962) - An Autumn Evening Study, 1901

Fritz Lindström (1874-1962) Sweden

An Autumn Evening Study, 1901
(En höstkvällstudie, 1901)

oil on canvas mounted on board
signed and dated 1901. Fritz Lindström
unframed c. 26.5 x 32 (unframed c. 26.5 x 32)
framed 35.5 x 41 cm (unframed c. 26.5 x 32)

Condition:
The painting has recently been restored by a professional art conservator. It is now in a very good condition, with significantly clearer colors and improved contrasts. It comes with a handcrafted frame from Stockholms Förgyllning och Bildhuggeri, one of Europe's leading frame makers.

Provenance:
Architect Ludvig Mattsson (1888-1960) Arvika, thence in descent until 2024.

Essay:

This landscape painting by Swedish artist Fritz Lindström captures the tranquility of the Stockholm archipelago. "An Autumn Evening Study, 1901" is a stunning portrayal of a rural scene at dusk. The painting's delicate pink and purple sky envelops the landscape in a soft glow, hinting at the transition from day to night. In the middle ground, a farmer with his horse can be seen plowing a field, adding a narrative element to this peaceful scene. This work is one of several paintings Lindström created during this period, following his time in France and prior to joining the Rackstad group in 1903.

BIOGRAPHY

Fritz Lindström started his artistic journey as an apprentice in decorative painting under Carl Grabow, where he met fellow artist Björn Ahlgrensson. He later studied at the Artists' Association School in Stockholm with Richard Bergh (1892–1894 and 1895–1896) and at Valand Art School in Gothenburg under Carl Larsson (1894–1895). His studies continued in Copenhagen and Paris from 1897 to 1899.

In 1900, Lindström returned to Sweden, drawn to Värmland by his friend and brother-in-law Björn Ahlgrensson. From 1903 onwards, he became part of the Rackstad group—a community of artists who saw the countryside as an ideal setting for artistic and spiritual work. This belief resonated with Lindström, and he remained dedicated to this lifestyle for over fifty years, living and working by Lake Racken.

Lindström's early artistic focus was on the challenging art of human studies, which piqued his interest. Despite financial struggles and difficulty selling his paintings, he gained recognition mainly for his portraits, known for their well-constructed composition and deep psychological insight. Portrait painting became crucial for his financial stability. Interest in his landscape paintings grew when the director of the National Museum happened upon his landscapes during an exhibition opening in Arvika. His color palette was often bold, with touches of red. He is primarily remembered as a landscape and portrait painter.