Owe Zerge's portraits of choirboys belong to his most famous and distinctive group of motifs. These paintings are characterised by a photographic realism blended with a sacred, dreamlike atmosphere. The portraits are regarded as Swedish 20th-century classicism with a slight melancholic undertone, which was common in the art of that time.

Owe Zerge's portraits of choirboys were influenced by the New Objectivity (Neue Sachlichkeit) and the portraiture of the Renaissance. The portrayed youths often have a serious and almost celestial radiance that is enhanced by their ceremonial garments. Zerge was fascinated by the spiritual. During his travels in Europe, particularly in Italy and France, he was inspired by Catholic environments where choirboys in their red or black vestments became a recurring motif. Zerge was also recognised for his skill in rendering fabrics and surfaces. The immense richness of detail in the white lace of the garments, set against the dark background, is a hallmark of Zerge's masterful painting.