Otte Sköld was a Swedish artist and art educator who played a significant role in Swedish art life during the first half of the 20th century. Born in China, he moved to Sweden at the age of thirteen and later studied art in Stockholm and Paris, where he was influenced by modern European painting.

During the 1940s, Sköld became a central figure in Swedish art education as director of Kungliga Konsthögskolan. In 1950, he was appointed director of Nationalmuseum and went on to play an important role in the creation of Moderna Museet, which opened on Skeppsholmen in Stockholm in 1958.

The auction includes a dynamic depiction from the racecourse. Three horses gallop past an expectant crowd, whose applause seems to follow the dramatic course of the competition. Among the spectators are elegant groups in hats, gathered to enjoy the excitement and festivities of a sunny summer’s day. The scene captures both the movement on the track and the lively atmosphere surrounding the race.