Pencil Portrait Of A Child By Vera Nilsson

Beautiful pencil portrait of a tongue-tied child. Drawn on brown paper, this drawing captures the moment of this baby, who appears to be suffering from hydrocephalus. The portrait benefits from a glass frame. It recalls the “Ginga” portrait of Vera Nilsson's daughter Catharina, or the “Anna-Lisa” portrait.

Vera Nilsson (1888-1979) was a renowned Swedish painter. From an early age, she showed a deep interest in art, and benefited from private drawing lessons during her school years. This precocious passion led Vera to join the drawing teacher training course at Stockholm Technical School from 1906 to 1909. Rather than follow the academic path, she chose to pursue her own path, enrolling at the Valand School of Art in Gothenburg under the guidance of Carl Wilhelmson, a renowned Swedish painter of the time. Eager to explore new perspectives, Nilsson moved to Paris in 1910, where she studied under cubist Henri Le Fauconnier at the Académie de La Palette. At the Sonderbund exhibition in Cologne in 1912, she was deeply moved by the works of Vincent Van Gogh. This encounter was to influence her move towards Expressionism.

The following years were marked by travel and discovery. During the 1st World War, Vera settled in Copenhagen, enjoying a dynamic artistic environment while spending her summers on the island of Öland, the source of inspiration for many of her landscapes. In 1919, she travelled to Spain. This trip allowed her to immerse herself in the works of El Greco in Toledo, reinforcing her quest for intense, emotional artistic expression. The birth of her daughter Catharina, nicknamed “Ginga”, in 1922, opened a new chapter in her creation, giving rise to a poignant series of maternal portraits.
Vera Nilsson is also a committed artist. A profound pacifist, she expressed her convictions in works such as “Penning contra liv” in 1939, a powerful denunciation of the horrors of the Spanish Civil War.  Her trips to Senegal in 1949 enriched her thematic palette, capturing everyday African life with sensitivity and respect. In the 1960s, preoccupied by the nuclear threat, she produced works reflecting her concerns, while offering messages of hope. Vera Nilsson has also played a key role in the integration of art into Swedish public spaces. Her mosaic “Det Klara som trots allt inte försvinner”, installed in 1957 at Stockholm's T-Centralen metro station, remains a testament to her desire to make art accessible to all. In recognition of her outstanding contribution, she was awarded the Prince Eugen Medal in 1948 and, in 1954, became the first woman of the XXᵉ century to be elected a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. A significant part of her work is devoted to the depiction of children, notably her daughter Catharina. Her expressionist approach aimed to capture the emotional essence of her subjects rather than provide an idealized representation. This artistic approach sometimes drew criticism from his contemporaries, some of whom perceived his portraits of children as “ugly”. However, these works reflect Nilsson's desire to convey the depth and complexity of childhood emotions, moving away from traditional conventions to offer a more authentic vision of childhood.  Vera Nilsson died in 1979 in Stockholm, leaving behind her a rich artistic legacy, imbued with emotion, color and an unwavering commitment to humanity.

Condition:
Frame: perfect condition.
Glass: perfect condition.
Drawing: near-perfect condition: 2 marks on top left as if the paper had swollen.
PHOTOS ARE PART OF THE DESCRIPTION. For other photos, please contact me.

Signed: Vera Nilsson (1888-1979)  swedish painter.
Period: circa 1920 / 1930.

Dimensions:
Sight drawing of the Marie Louise: Width 18.5 cm - Height 26 cm.
Frame: Width 32 cm - Height 40.5 cm.

For information: the price indicated does not include shipping.
For more paintings and objects, visit: aenigmattic.fr or my instagram: @aenigmatticshopnice
If you're selling curios, send me an email, I'll be happy to reply.
For more photos, please contact me.