Carl Kjellin (1862-1939) - Sunset Over the Lake, 1919

Carl Kjellin (1862-1939) Sweden

Sunset Over the Lake, 1919

oil on canvas
signed and dated C Kjellin 19
unframed 76 x100 cm
framed 91 x 116 cm

Provenance:
A gift from the artist to doctor Knut Harald Giertz;
Malma Gård Östergötland.


Essay:
"Sunset Over the Lake" by Carl Kjellin is a Nordic Light painting capturing the ephemeral beauty of a lake at sunset. The vibrant canvas, dominated by a brilliant orange sky reflecting upon the water's surface, evokes a sense of tranquility and awe. Kjellin's use of intense colors and the contrast between the dark foreground of trees and bushes creates a depth that draws the viewer into the landscape. The meticulous brushwork suggests movement through the serene stillness of nature, with a lone bird in flight enhancing the painting's dynamic feel.

Born on January 10, 1862, in Sweden, Carl Kjellin was not only an accomplished artist but also a respected drawing teacher. His education at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm from 1881 to 1886, and subsequent studies in the Netherlands and Düsseldorf, as well as etching under Axel Tallberg, equipped him with a diverse skill set. Kjellin's oeuvre includes portraits and scenes from Bergslagen, featuring forges, blast furnaces, and charcoal kilns, reflecting his deep connection with Swedish landscapes.

His contributions to exhibitions at the Royal Academy, the Swedish General Art Association, and the Swedish Artists' Association were noteworthy, earning him scholarships in 1890 and 1891. Kjellin's legacy as a drawing instructor at the Technical School in Stockholm from 1898 to 1927 left a significant impact on the generations that followed. His works, including several drawings, are held in the collections of the Nationalmuseum and the Nordic Museum in Sweden.