Ivar Arosenius (1878–1909) - Peekaboo, 1905

Ivar Arosenius (Sweden, 1878–1909)

Peekaboo, 1905

watercolour on paper
sheet c.17.5 × 15.5 cm (6.9 × 6.1 in); frame 29 × 24 cm (11.4 × 9.4 in)
signed and dated on verso: “af Ivar Arosenius år 05”, also dated upper left corner. 

Handcrafted by Christer Björkman, one of Northern Europe’s leading framemakers

Provenance:
Stockholms Auktionsverk, Quality Auction, 10–14 November 1981, cat. no. 898;
A private collection, Sweden.

Essay:
In Peekaboo (1905) Ivar Arosenius presents a charming scene of childhood mischief and mystery. From the shadowy interior of a wooden wardrobe, a little girl slyly peeks out at us, as if caught in a game of hide-and-seek. The painting’s playful mystery lies in this furtive glance – we almost expect to hear a stifled giggle as the child whispers “peekaboo!” The composition is simple yet evocative: soft washes of color and gentle lines create a quiet domestic backdrop, allowing the mischievous gaze of the girl to become the focal point. Arosenius’s characteristically light touch and subtle humor shine through here, turning an ordinary hiding spot into a scene of tender suspense.

About Ivar Arosenius (1878–1909)

Ivar Arosenius holds a special place in Swedish art history, despite a life cut tragically short. Born in Gothenburg in 1878, he lived only 30 years – yet in that brief span he produced an oeuvre that has become an important chapter in Sweden’s cultural legacy. Arosenius suffered from hemophilia, and in 1909 a sudden throat infection led to a fatal hemorrhage. This looming condition inevitably colored his outlook and, subtly, his art.

Arosenius developed a distinctive style that mingled satire and fairy-tale fantasy in equal measure. His work is often described as burlesque yet deeply moving, filled with subtly humorous and imaginative scenes. He moved in bohemian artist circles and drew inspiration from Symbolism, favoring imaginative expression over strict realism. Many of his watercolor paintings and illustrations have a storybook quality – both playful and poignant – much like Peekaboo’s little drama in the wardrobe. Arosenius often balanced a gentle, whimsical wit with underlying sincerity in his art, earning him a reputation as something of a “serious jester.” He contributed caricatures and drawings to humor magazines of the era, and he is also celebrated for his work as a picture-book illustrator. His illustrated fairy tale Kattresan (“The Cat’s Journey”) remains his most beloved and best-known children’s book.