A stylish mid-century portrait by Swedish artist, Igge Karlsson (1932-2009). It depicts a young lady called Marianne and it’s been painted with broad linear brushstrokes and a cool palette of icy tones.

Karlsson trained at the Royal College of Art and the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm. Throughout his career, he enjoyed experimenting with new styles, expressive compositions, and vivid colours. His landscapes are often almost abstract and full of free expression.

Here, he’s taken a more refined approach and the marks feel quite precise and geometric. Could this be a commentary on the sitter’s character?

On the reverse, a newspaper cutting includes a review of an exhibition featuring Karlsson. It concludes as follows:

“Classic form in free execution makes this exhibition a tribute.”

Karlsson is represented in several museums including the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, the Malmö konstmuseum, the Sundsvalls museum and the Göteborgs konstmuseum.

The portrait is signed/dated in the lower right and housed within a gilded frame.

Medium: Oil on board
Overall size: 16” x 19” / 41cm x 48cm
Year of creation: 1958
Provenance: Sweden
Condition: Very good overall.