Portrait of Alma - Carl Larsson

A striking 1887 pastel portrait by Swedish artist Carl Larsson, featuring his subject, Alma, against a bold blue background.

This portrait of Alma, executed by the Swedish artist Carl Larsson in 1887, demonstrates his technical facility with the pastel medium. During this period, Larsson spent significant time in France, where he engaged with contemporary European artistic practices. The work captures the subject in a three-quarter profile, her gaze directed towards the viewer with a calm, composed expression. The composition is defined by a bold, saturated blue background that contrasts with the softer, naturalistic tones of the subject's skin. Larsson employs a confident, expressive application of pastel, allowing the texture of the paper to remain visible in areas of the background and clothing. The subject wears a dark hat and a high-collared garment, typical of late nineteenth-century fashion. The inclusion of the name 'ALMA' in the upper right corner, rendered in a decorative script, suggests a personal or informal nature to the commission. Larsson is widely recognised for his later domestic scenes, yet this portrait provides insight into his earlier professional output as a portraitist. The handling of light across the subject's face is precise, creating a sense of volume and presence. The work avoids excessive detail, focusing instead on the character of the sitter and the atmospheric quality of the medium. The signature and date are clearly visible in the lower right, confirming the provenance of this piece within his active years in Paris. This print captures the specific grain and colour depth of the original pastel, offering a clear view of Larsson's mark-making and his ability to balance colour fields within a portrait format.