ELIAS ERDTMAN (1863-1945). Landscape with Silverån in Hässleby.

Oil on canvas mounted on panel, 15 x 24 cm. Signed E. Erdtman and dated 1883.

On verso with text HÄSSLEBY. Silverån in Hässleby is located in Småland and is today a nature reserve.

Elias Henrik Erdtman was a Swedish artist who in his early years as a young man roamed around Småland together with the artist Johan Krouthén and dreamed of becoming an artist. During this time, he began to paint some. In 1881 he began studying at the Technical School (today Konstfack) under Oscar Törnå. This study, dated 1883, dates from his last year of study and one can already sense his talent here. After his art studies in Stockholm, he travelled in 1884 to Düsseldorf and on to Belgium, before moving on to Paris and Grez-sur-Loing together with his artist friends Ernst Josephson and Carl Larsson.
He participated in the majority of the Artists' Union's exhibitions from 1898 and sat on the board of the Artists' Association in 1915—20. Erdtman received the honorary “Mention honorable” award at the 1900 Paris World's Fair. He held a number of solo exhibitions in Stockholm and other Swedish cities during the early 20th century.
Erdtman is represented at, among others, Kalmar Art Museum, Norrköping Art Museum, Thielska Galleriet and Nationalmuseum.