Good Art X

Crafoord Auktioner Stockholm presents the thematic auction God Konst No. 10, highlighting this month’s selection of intriguing artists and works. These pieces deserve to be part of a greater context and, hopefully, to adorn many walls.

We are championing the arts by showcasing over 200 works by artists such as Prince Eugen, Axel Kargel, Gottfrid Kallstenius, Ellen Jolin, Sixten Lundbohm, Astrid Munthe de Wolfe, Timo Solin, Edvard Andersson, Clifford Jackson, Karel Appel, Chagall, Léger, Roberto Matta, and multiple works by Bjarne Melgaard and John Carlson, featuring motifs from Stockholm, Paris, and New York.
Other highlights include Albert Steiner’s photograph of S:t Moritzsee, Lars Hillersberg’s print Spekulation, signed by both the artist and Christer Pettersson (1947–2004), who for a period was a suspect in the Palme assassination, as well as Torsten Palm’s monumental 3.45-meter painting with provenance from the restaurant Tre Remmare. Additionally, an intriguing book: Revue Verve (1952), containing multiple original lithographs, and Sture Johannesson’s cult-status print Friheten på barrikaden/Haschflickan from 1968.
The theme also includes sculptures by Willy Gordon, Ivar Johnsson, Tomas Almberg, and Joze Strazar, among others, as well as paintings by unknown artists of high artistic quality.

The name God Konst has been used in other contexts before. In 1941, the exhibition God Konst i Alla Hem (Good Art in Every Home) was launched under HSB’s initiative. Its aim was to promote quality art in people’s homes. The exhibition catalog stated that building good homes was not enough—art also needed its place. The principle was to offer fine art to the public at affordable prices. To ensure the quality of the art, a jury of renowned artists and art critics evaluated the exhibited works. As a result, one could, for example, purchase GAN’s oil painting Berns 1918 for 5,000 kronor, the tempera Ratten for 350 kronor, and Laboratorium for 500 kronor. Other artists included in the Art for the People project were Oskar Bergman, Einar Jolin, Arne Jones, Isaac Grünewald, Sixten Lundbohm, and Erik and Axel Olson. The exhibition’s 10-year anniversary was held at Liljevalchs Art Gallery in Stockholm.
That same year, 1941, Gunnar Hjorthén (1913–1997) opened Galleri God Konst on Vallgatan in Gothenburg. He came to be regarded as something of an institution in the city’s art scene. Over time, the gallery relocated to various locations, including Drottninggatan, the Concert Hall, and Södra Vägen. Hjorthén dedicated himself to promoting and highlighting young art, representing artists such as Ivan Ivarson, Karin Parrow, Ragnar Sandberg, and Inge Schiöler. Thanks in large part to Hjorthén and Galleri God Konst, the Gothenburg Colorism movement became a recognized artistic term. Like the Swedish-French Art Gallery, Hjorthén sought inspiration early on in Paris, establishing a connection to new painting styles through his gallery. In 1953, for example, he exhibited Tsugoharu Foujita.

Step inside, enjoy the viewing, and be inspired.