Örterviken, 1951

An original Swedish oil painting by Svän Grandin (1906–1982) depicting the rocky shoreline at Örterviken in July 1951. Pale blue water winds between dark, expressive passages of rock, while brilliant yellow-green houses and foliage rise along the opposite shore beneath a softly painted sky.

Signed and dated 1951, the painting retains its original inscription on the reverse identifying the location as “Örterviken – Fygdsten, July 1951.” Sourced in Sweden and presented in a vintage wood frame with gilt and silvered tones.

About the Artist

Svän Grandin (1906–1982) was a Swedish painter born in Borås. Before pursuing art, Grandin worked as a textile worker and sailor. Largely self-taught, he furthered his artistic education through independent study trips to Paris in 1938, 1939 and 1946. His exhibition career began in Borås in 1936 and later included exhibitions in Stockholm and Gothenburg as well as participation in a group exhibition in Paris in 1939.

Color became an important element of Grandin's work, with his palette developing from the heavier tones of his early paintings toward clearer blues, greens, yellows and reds. He worked principally with landscapes, figurative compositions and still lifes. Grandin is represented in the collection of Borås Konstmuseum, which added four works donated by his relatives to its holdings in 2023 to create a more comprehensive representation of his career.

Details

✓ Original oil painting on panel
✓ Svän Grandin (Swedish, 1906–1982)
✓ Signed lower right
✓ Dated 1951
✓ Inscribed on reverse “Örterviken – Fygdsten, July 1951”
✓ Sourced in Sweden
✓ Presented in a vintage wood frame
✓ Ready to hang

Measurements

18.9 × 22 inches framed

Condition

Good vintage condition with age-related wear. The painting has a minor scratch with small areas of paint loss/staining along the lower edge, as noted in the original condition report. The vintage frame shows expected surface wear. Please review photographs closely as they form part of the condition description.

Why We Chose It

The color is exceptional — sharp yellow-greens against pale blue water and the almost chocolate-brown rocks in the foreground. We also loved that the reverse preserves the exact place and month Grandin painted it, giving this landscape a particularly tangible connection to Sweden in the summer of 1951.

Shipping

Free U.S. shipping. Always carefully packed and fully insured.