Three enchanting works by John Bauer

John Bauer (1882–1918) is one of Sweden’s most beloved artists, and his fairytale imagery continues to captivate generation after generation. Through his shimmering princesses, deep forests and mystical creatures, he created a visual language that has become an integral part of Swedish art and cultural history.

“Works by John Bauer always generate tremendous interest, and we are proud to present three such significant works by an artist who so many Swedes have grown up with and carry with them,” says Cecilia Berggren, Specialist in Classical Art at Stockholms Auktionsverk.

“John Bauer created entire worlds, where each motif seems to contain a larger story beyond the image itself, inviting the viewer to become a co-creator. In these independent works, one can also see how Bauer moves between symbolism, Nordic folklore and a more personal mode of expression, while the influence of the Italian Renaissance remains clearly present.”

In „Ut i vida världen“ (Out into the wide world) – estimated at SEK 2,500,000–3,000,000 – we encounter a young boy on a white horse gazing out across an unknown landscape where swans rise into the sky: an image of longing, hope for the future and the courage to venture into the unknown. The work was originally published as a print in Julbocken in 1907 and has since become one of Bauer’s most beloved and widely reproduced images.

The watercolour also has a remarkable provenance. Publisher Erik Åkerlund, an early collaborator of Bauer’s, kept the original work in his private collection and later commissioned a larger fresco version of the motif for Villa Lyngsåsa in Dalarö. The image subsequently accompanied Åkerlund to his residence in Stockholm’s Diplomatstaden district and has over the years attained an almost iconic status within Swedish visual culture.

Prinsessa (Princess) depicts the luminous and ethereal female figure that became a recurring motif in Bauer’s art. Surrounded by flowers and shimmering light, the princess appears in stark contrast to the dark and enchanted forests. The influence of both Renaissance art and Bauer’s wife, Ester Ellqvist, can be sensed in the work. The work is valued at SEK 1,000,000–1,200,000.

„Sjökungens drottning“ (The Sea King’s Queen), with an estimate of SEK 800,000–1,000,000, is inspired by the tale of Agneta and the Sea King from “Bland tomtar och troll” (Among gnomes and trolls) and portrays the meeting between the human and the supernatural. The work captures the poetic and melancholic mood that defines the story and demonstrates Bauer’s ability to merge Nordic folklore with influences from the Italian Renaissance.

“In John Bauer’s art there is both the fairytale-like and something profoundly human. The motifs are dreamlike and atmospheric, yet at the same time intimate and immediately accessible. This is one reason why they continue to enchant audiences, forge deep emotional connections and shape the image of Sweden even today,” says Cecilia Berggren.

The preview for The Curated Classics Sale opens on May 29 at Stockholms Auktionsverk, Nybrogatan 32, Stockholm. The auction will take place on June 9–10.

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