Gösta Adrian-Nilsson, "Badande (Sommarkväll)"
Modern Art + Design presents
Gösta Adrian-Nilsson, "Badande (Sommarkväll)"
The 1924 Olympic Games in Paris inspired Gösta Adrian-Nilsson (GAN) to create one of his larges works during his Paris years 1920-1925, the painting “Olympiad” (“The Javelin Thrower”), which sixty years later had the honour of adorning both exhibition poster and catalogue for GAN’s 100-year anniversary exhibition at Liljevalchs and Malmö Konsthall (the painting belongs to Kulturen in Lund). After his return to Lund in 1925, sports motifs reappear from time to time in his paintings, for e.g. in “The Football Player” (1926) and in the dynamic boxing painting “Knockout” (1927) as well as in later paintings such as “Cross-country Skier”(1935), “Rugby” (1935) and “Hockey Goalkeeper” (1942).
GAN's interest in sports was multi-faceted. A hundred years ago, sport was a new and vital social phenomenon, which became part of emerging modern society. GAN, with his alert interest in what was current, became one of the first artists in Europe to paint sportsmen in a Modernist style.
But for GAN sport became more than a symbol of modernity: the studies and paintings of athletic sportsmen also reveal a hidden homoerotic interest. Athletics and most other sports at this time were still a purely masculine affair and GAN had a strong attraction to athletic young men.
The last word is given, however, to GAN's friend and fellow artist Erik Olson who wrote the following in a letter to his brother Axel on July 20, 1930: "I must say, and this with joy, that there are real gems in Gösta's production - especially the sports paintings and folk songs. 1924 - 1927 is a good era of Gösta".
To be sold at Modern Art + Design. Estimate: 2 000 000 - 2 500 000 SEK.
When is the viewing and auction?
Viewing: 10–15 November, Berzelii Park 1, Stockholm.
Open: Mon–Fri 11 AM – 6 PM, Sat–Sun, 11 AM – 4 PM.
Auction: 16–17 November, Arsenalsgatan 2, Stockholm.lm