Harald Wiberg – Hunting Dogs

“To become a good animal illustrator, it’s not enough just to be skilled with your hand. You also have to learn to understand animals so that you can feel what it’s like to be a grouse, a hare, or a moose. And when drawing the landscape surrounding the animal, you must understand why it lives there and not somewhere else.”

Harald Wiberg had an insatiable curiosity about nature, and he was intensely present in his work, capturing the essence of each moment. He is primarily remembered for his recurring depictions of Swedish nature, featuring wildlife, birds, and hunters. In this auction, we have the privilege of presenting eleven finely crafted watercolors depicting hunting dogs in action through each of the year’s seasons.

Harald Wiberg (1908–1986) was from Ankarsrum in Kalmar County. He showed an early talent for drawing, loved nature, and it is said that his perseverance laid the foundation for his future career. As a young man, he moved to Stockholm, studied at Konstfack (University of Arts, Crafts and Design), and traveled to France and Italy. Wiberg developed into a skilled illustrator and artist. Through his many years of work for the magazine Svensk Jakt from the Swedish Hunters’ Association, he became well known. He gained recognition as an illustrator for numerous books on animals, hunting, fishing, and outdoor life and illustrated around 20 books on these topics.