May 28, 1853

Where are we? It is easy to forget that before air-conditioning social life was conducted outdoors much more. Not only were the windows open, but events happened out of doors, at least in the summer. And the season is important for we are in Sundborn, Sweden, in the late 19th century. The people here are probably family members of the artist's. The artist is Carl Larsson. (May 28, 1853 to January 22, 1919). His wife was also an artist, and they had eight children.





The above is probably a family member. Below is his daughter Kersti.



And here is the winter season. Larsson has portrayed Christmas Eve (1904) below.

  

Larsson became very successful, and still is famous in Sweden. His home, the setting for so many of his pictures, is a museum now.  My sense is not that we are seeing the art of an illustrator, but the art of someone who, after a dreadfully poor childhood, was able to appreciate the blessings of family. Here are a lot more pictures; perhaps like me you will enjoy browsing through another century, another country, an artist's family. Notice the way art is integrated into the domestic environment. This is part of the arts and crafts movement. Okay, one more picture.