Landscape from Kvikkjokk, c. 1861

Per Daniel Holm (Malingsbo, Dalarna 1835–1903 Stockholm) Attributed to.

Landscape from Kvikkjokk, c. 1861

oil on board
unframed 39 x 56 cm (15.4 x 22 inches)
framed 46.5 x 63 cm (18.3 x 24.8 inches)

Condition:
Very good condition, recently restored by professional art conservator in Stockholm.

Essay:
This exquisite landscape by Per Daniel Holm captures the serene beauty of Kvikkjokk, a remote area in Lapland, Sweden. Holm created the piece following his participation in a scientific expedition to Lapland from July to September 1861, led by Carl Anton Petterson, inspector of the kingdom's navigation schools and a member of the Academy of Military Sciences. The purpose of the expedition was to gather geographical data and make precise location and height determinations for the creation of a comprehensive economic map, as the knowledge of Lapland's interior was, at the time, incomplete and often inaccurate.

Kvikkjokk and the neighboring settlement Kammjokk served as the expedition’s destination—regions scarcely populated in the 19th century. Holm, an exceptionally skilled draftsman and painter, documented the journey with studies in pencil, watercolor, and oil. On his return to Stockholm, these studies became the basis for a series of remarkable works that captured the essence of Lapland's rugged and untouched nature.

Among these works, Holm’s most famous painting, “Saggat-träsk Kvikkjokk” (1861, Nationalmuseum, Stockholm), stands as a testament to his ability to evoke the sublime grandeur of the northern wilderness. The present work, Landscape from Kvikkjokk, was similarly conceived from sketches made during this expedition, reflecting Holm's unique ability to blend scientific precision with artistic expression.

Adding to the significance of this painting is its connection to Axel Wilhelm Nordgren (1828–1888), who created a copy of the work, underscoring its importance and influence in the artistic circles of the time. Holm’s original compositions from Lapland were later exhibited and sold at the Konstnärshuset in Stockholm in November 1903, in a retrospective that celebrated his contributions to Swedish art.