Gustaf-Fjaestad | Paesaggi invernali

Gustaf Fjæstad (Stoccolma, 1868 - Arvika, 1948) è stato un pittore e designer Svedese, celebre per i suoi dipinti che ritraggono paesaggi invernali.

Gustaf Fjæstad nacque a Stoccolma nel 1868 da Peder Christensen, calzolaio e Kristina Andersson.

Studiò dapprima presso la Reale Accademia delle Belle Arti nel 1891-92 e l'anno successivo alla Konstnärsförbundets skola.

Nel 1893 fu assistente di Bruno Liljefors durante i suoi lavori decorativi per il museo biologico (Stoccolma) e poi di Carl Larsson quando dipinse gli affreschi del Museo nazionale di Stoccolma.

Nel 1898 sposò Maria Hellén, una giovane artista che aveva studiato anch'ella nella scuola d'arte Konstnärsförbundets. Influenzati dalle idee romantiche nazionali che circolavano nel Konstnärsförbundet skola, la coppia si trasferì nel Värmland sul lago Racken dove fondò il cosiddetto Rackstadgruppen al quale partecipavano Björn Ahlgrensson, Bror Lindh e Fritz Lindström.

Nel 1908 tenne la sua prima mostra personale a Stoccolma.

Nel 1910 espose nuovamente a Stoccolma, nel 1914 a Berlino e nel 1927 a Londra.

Nel 1932, una grande mostra delle sue opere fu esposta al Värmlands Museum.

I suoi dipinti si trovano, tra gli altri, nel Nationalmuseum, nella Galleria Thiel di Stoccolma e nel Museo d'arte di Göteborg.

Oltre alla pittura, Gustaf Fjæstad si dedicò alla lavorazione del legno. Dipinse motivi per arazzi e disegnò mobili che venivano realizzati da falegnami locali. | © Wikipedia

Gustaf Fjaestad (1868-1948) was a Swedish painter.

Gustaf Adolf Christensen Fjæstad was born in Jakobs parish in the Diocese of Stockholm, Sweden. He was the son of Peder Christensen Fjæstad and Kristina Andersson.

He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in 1891-1892 and then, during 1893, at the Academy of the Arts (Konstnärsförbundets skola) operated by Richard Bergh in Stockholm.

Fjæstad belonged to the Artist Association (Konstnärsförbundet).

He assisted Bruno Liljefors during his decorative work for the Biological museum (Stockholm) and collaborated with Carl Larsson on the murals now at the Stockholm National Museum.

In 1897, he moved to Taserud near Arvika in Värmland. He held his first solo exhibition in Stockholm in 1908.

In 1910 he again exhibited in Stockholm, in 1914 at Berlin and in 1927 at London.

In 1932, a large exhibition of his works from later periods was shown at Värmlands Museum. After the first decade of the 20th century, he devoted himself principally to woodcraft. His work is found in many national and international collections.

His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1936 Summer Olympics.

Personal life

Apart from painting, Fjæstad was also an accomplished cyclist. He won the inaugural Mälaren Runt around Lake Mälaren in 1892.

In 1898, he was married to artist Maja Fjæstad (1873-1961). They were the parents of four children including author Agneta Fjaestad (1901-1997).

Both he and his wife were members of the Rackstad colony of artists at Arvika in Värmland, Sweden. He was buried at Arvika Cemetery. | Source: © Wikipedia