Lena Cronqvist’s painting is undoubtedly one of the most important Swedish artworks from the latter part of the 20th Century. It is a double portrait of the artist and her husband, Göran Tunström painted in 1973. It was sold today for 11 370 000 SEK – a record-breaking sum for an active Swedish artist.

Wednesday evening’s Contemporary Sale brought fresh energy as well as very positive news for contemporary Swedish art. Works by Ann Edholm and Andreas Eriksson showed a serious interest in the second-hand market and sold at record prices. Even images from the famous photographic series by Lennart Nilsson capturing the moment of conception and the newly developed human embryo generated lively bidding. Other sources of energy at the sale were the rising young star Oscar Murillo’s Untitled painting (sold for 762 300 SEK) and, not least, Dan Wolgers’ summons in connection with the illegal sale of benches from the Liljevalchs gallery. The final price considerably exceeded the fine: 382 500 SEK.

“Auctions of contemporary art are always a nervous business. Having the opportunity to present Lena Cronqvist’s Trolovningen to a wider public is a great experience. With her multi-facetted and unconditional style of painting, deeply rooted in a centuries-long tradition, Lena Cronqvist appears as a giant among Swedish artists”, to quote Anna Persson, Head of our Art Department.