213. BENGT HEDBERG (1868-1953). “After the rain, Visingsö”.

Oil on panel 17,7 x 25 cm. Monogram signed and dated “18 Aug 99" and titled “VISINGSÖ” and signed “Bengt Hedberg/Studie från Visingsö”, verso

EXHIBITIONS
It's Stockholm. Gummesons Art Shop. Strandv. 17, Bengt Hedberg Solo Exhibition of Oil Paintings and Drawings, 15-31 March 1925, no. 2 “After the Rain, Visingsö, Kr. 1000"

The focus on the atmospheric as well as the colour scale is very reminiscent of Helmer Osslund's works performed in the first decade of the 20th century. The present study, conducted plein air, as well as similar studies by Hedberg, may have exerted influence on Osslund's art.

Visingsö is the largest island in Lake Vättern. The island is 14 km long and its greatest width is 3 km. During the 12th and 13th centuries, Visingsö was the centre of Swedish royal power. Näs Castle was built on the southern tip of the island and served as a residence for Magnus Ladulås, among others. During the 17th century, the powerful Brahätten exercised its power from the castle Visingsborg on the eastern side of the island. Today, only ruins of both facilities remain. At Visingsborg, in the final stages of the Great Northern War, a large number of prisoners of war, preferably Russians, were held. As many as 2,000 prisoners may have been held on bail at the same time. Many died during the captivity, and some of these were buried in what is today known as the Russian Cemetery. In 1819, Major Johan Aron af Borneman was commissioned to inventory all of Sweden's oak trees in order to secure the supply of timber for the Swedish navy after Swedish Pomerania and its vast oak forests were lost following the Napoleonic Wars. Borneman's report led to the Riksdag's decision in 1820-30 that the Crown should establish a several hundred hectare oak plantation on Visingsö. By the middle of the 19th century, about 300,000 oak trees had been planted, many of which remain today and occupy an area of about 360 hectares. The oak forest is currently managed by the Swedish National Property Office. For a few decades in the early 20th century, Visingsö gained international attention through the activities of Katherine Tingley and the Theosophical Society on the island, most notably the 1913 World Peace Congress.

Hedberg was the son of writer and actor Frans Hedberg (1828-1908) and his wife actress Amanda, b. Broman. He studied at the Technical School 1886-88 and at the Academy of Fine Arts 1889-1896. This was followed by study trips to England and Scotland in 1903, and Germany and Italy in 1910-1911. Between 1907 and 1908 he was a board member of the artist group De Frie. From 1911 Hedberg lived in Gränna and for a long time belonged to the artists' colony there.

Hedberg is represented in the Nationalmuseum with two landscape paintings (without access) and three in the Thielska Gallery executed between 1898-1905.