Sten Larson (1908-1999) - Sami Figuren Sorteren de Visvangst (NO RESERVE)

Sten Larson (1908–1999) – Sami Figures Sorting the Catch
Oil on canvas, 30.5 × 35.5 cm
With frame 44.5 × 50 cm
Hand signed top left

Introduction
The oeuvre of Swedish artist Sten Larson, active throughout the twentieth century, is characterized by a powerful, expressive touch and a deep connection with the Scandinavian landscape and its people. His work is closely related to the Northern European Impressionist tradition, which emphasizes atmosphere, light effects, and direct observation. This vibrant painting, from a prestigious private collection, embodies Larson's ability to depict the everyday life of the Sami community with intensity and respect.

Description of the work
This compact yet remarkably energetic canvas depicts a winter scene in which two Sami figures are busy sorting their catch. The icy ground is covered in snow, with bright streaks of red, yellow, and orange fish flesh glowing brightly. The figures, dressed in deep blue clothing and traditional red headdresses, create a powerful counterpoint to the surrounding cool gray sky and dark background of huts, fences, and snow-capped hills. To the right of the frame, a third figure crouched in the snow, surrounded by utensils that evoke the practical, daily rhythm of Sami life. This combination of restrained observation and expressive paint handling is characteristic of Larson's engaged and direct painting style.

Technique and use of color
Larson works here in an impasto-like, loose oil painting technique, applying the paint visibly richly and thickly. The brushstrokes retain their physical presence, creating a tactile surface that dynamically captures the winter light. The artist employs a high-contrast palette: cool shades of blue, gray, and violet dominate the sky and the clothing, while warm accents of red and ochre highlight the fishing scene and the headdresses. This color tension lends the work a powerful visual dynamism typical of twentieth-century Scandinavian Impressionism. The overall effect reveals a spontaneous and direct working method, enhancing the impression of a snapshot painted in situ.

Composition
The composition is clearly structured around the centrally placed figures. The diagonal of the snowy plain guides the eye to the colorful fish, after which the viewer is led past the stylized background structures to the horizon line. Despite its relatively small size, the painting possesses a striking sense of depth, thanks in part to the horizontal layering of water, snow, land, and sky. The subtle presence of architectural elements—the fences, storage structures, and hanging cloths—anchors the scene in a recognizable, traditional Northern Scandinavian setting.

Art historical context and style
The work is representative of the Impressionist-oriented painting tradition in Sweden during the mid-twentieth century, in which artists often focused on rural themes, seasonal changes, and the harsh conditions of northern communities. Larson thus aligns with a broader movement that emphasizes light, atmosphere, and direct observation. Within the Swedish context, artists such as Helmer Osslund, Leander Engström, and Gösta Nystroem share a common approach to color and landscape. Internationally, his expressive touch demonstrates an affinity with artists such as Émile Othon Friesz and Armand Guillaumin.

The artist
Throughout his career, Sten Larson worked with a clear focus on everyday life and the atmosphere of Scandinavian nature. Available sources point to an artist who consistently developed a recognizable style, characterized by a loose touch, powerful color contrasts, and thematic attention to fishermen, harbors, and northern landscapes. His work is often associated with the Swedish modernist tradition that developed between Impressionism and Expressive Colorism.

Condition
The painting is in stable condition with visible crazing and a few spots of paint loss, consistent with its age and the thickly applied paint texture. No retouching is visible under UV light, indicating an authentic and undisturbed surface. The frame is older and shows minor signs of age. The work has recently been superficially cleaned and given a new, ultra-thin matte dammar sealer.

Provenance
The work comes from a high-quality private collection (estate) and no previous market references or auction history are documented in the available sources.

Final remarks
"Sami Figures Sorting the Catch" is a powerful example of Sten Larson's astute observation and his mastery of an expressive impressionist painting style. The combination of winter light, intense colors, and human activity gives the work both a documentary and an artistic-poetic quality. Thanks to its untouched and authentic state, distinctive style, and compelling theme, this is a particularly attractive and representative work within Larson's oeuvre, offered with No Reserve.

The work "Sami Figures Sorting the Catch" is in a white wooden frame

Total dimensions: 44.5x50cm
Canvas dimensions: 30.5x35.5cm

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