Emma Ekwall (1838-1925) - The Girl With Blue Necklace

Emma Ekwall (1838-1925) Sweden

The Girl With Blue Necklace

oil on board
signed E A Ekwall
unframed 18 x 11.5 cm
framed 28 x 22.5 cm

Literature:
Konstens värld, page 2308.

Condition:
Recently restored by a professional art conservator in Stockholm, this exquisite piece has undergone a meticulous cleaning, a fresh application of varnish, and a few minor retouches to bring back its original splendor.

Essay:
"The Girl with Blue Necklace" is an enchanting portrait of a young girl, depicted by the Swedish artist Emma Ekwall. She was sister of the famous artist Knut and Hugo and Gustaf Ekwall.
She studied at The Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts between 1865 and 1870 and earned fame as the first woman to receive the royal medal in 1871. Her artistic journey included time spent in Munich and Leipzig, enriching her skills and perspective. Ekwall's oeuvre encompasses portraits, floral still lifes, and genre paintings, with a special fondness for portraying children, where her talent shone brightest.

The portrait in question features a young girl in a red cap, her gaze captivating with innocence and a gentle serenity. The blue necklace, possibly reminiscent of lapis lazuli, but more likely of a simpler origin, likely colored bone or wooden beads, aligning with the subject's peasant roots.

Emma Ekwall's work is celebrated in prestigious collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, Norrköping's Art Museum, and the Kalmar Art Museum.