Excavated City (Uppgrävd Stad) | Oil on Canvas Painting
Artist: Brita af Klercker (1906-2001)
Origin: Sweden
Date: Mid-20th Century
Size: Approximately 64 x 77 cm framed (54 x 68 cm image size)
A striking modernist composition painted in oils on canvas, titled Uppgrävd Stad (“Excavated City”). The work depicts an abstracted urban landscape, where architectural forms, monumental columns and mountainous silhouettes are reduced to simplified geometric shapes and broad planes of colour. Executed in a restrained palette of soft greys, muted greens, warm ochres and pale lavender tones, the painting possesses a calm yet powerful presence.
Brita af Klercker demonstrates a confident and highly individual approach to composition, balancing solid architectural elements against the sweeping contours of the surrounding landscape. The loose, expressive brushwork and subtle tonal transitions create depth and atmosphere while maintaining a distinctly modernist aesthetic. The result is a contemplative and sophisticated work that invites interpretation, sitting comfortably within the tradition of twentieth-century Scandinavian modernism.
Oil on canvas. Signed “B.K.” and “B. af Klercker”. Presented in its original gilt frame and ready to hang. An exhibition label remains affixed to the reverse, identifying the work as Uppgrävd Stad.
Brita af Klercker (1906-2001) was a Swedish painter associated with the development of modern Scandinavian art during the twentieth century. Her works are recognised for their thoughtful compositions, architectural influences and sensitive use of colour. Paintings by af Klercker regularly appear at Scandinavian auction houses and are appreciated for their distinctive blend of abstraction and landscape-inspired imagery.
Condition
Good vintage condition. The canvas is secure on its stretcher and the paint surface is stable, displaying attractive age-related character consistent with a mid-century oil painting. The original frame shows surface wear and minor losses commensurate with age. The reverse retains period exhibition labels and inscriptions.
*Please note that all paintings have had previous lives and may be in an antiqued / worn condition. Signs of wear and minor damage are to be expected, as they contribute to each painting’s unique character and history.
