Lily of the Valley with Pears

A charming and characterful mid-century interior still life composition executed in tempera on board, by the established Swedish artist Eric Cederberg (1897-1984), whose artworks have been represented in several public and museum collections across Sweden.

This beautifully composed painting centres around a striking turquoise vase filled with lily-of-the-valley, their delicate white bells rising in elegant contrast against a backdrop of bold modernist colour blocks. Arranged on a vivid red tabletop, four stylised green pears add balance and rhythm.

The interior behind the arrangement is rendered through geometric planes of earthy brown, charcoal, plum, and cerulean blue, evoking walls, textiles, and an arched doorway while maintaining a flattened, abstract sensibility.

Executed in tempera, the work exhibits smooth, matte surfaces with crisp, clean edges. The artist embraces a distinctly modernist, slightly naïve style: simplifying forms, minimising perspective, and emphasising bold, graphic colour fields. The brushwork is controlled and even, lending a refined clarity to each element within the composition.

This tempera on board is presented in an ornate, richly detailed gilt frame that elevates the work with a sense of classical elegance. The artwork is further enhanced by a deep burgundy velvet mount, which provides a luxurious contrast and subtly intensifies the colours within the painting. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has tiny areas of wear the corners, consistent with age.

Size: 40 x 45 cm (including frame)