Between Us

A brilliantly executed mid-century modernist abstract figurative composition, painted in oil onto canvas by the established Swedish painter Hans Osswald (1919-1983), whose works have been exhibited at the National Museum in Stockholm, Malmö Museum as well as The Brooklyn Museum.

This striking painting presents two simplified human forms suspended in a quiet, intimate exchange. One figure stands in soft green clothing, loosely holding a cluster of yellow flowers, while the other sits nearby, turned toward them in a moment that feels conversational. Their faces are intentionally undefined, reduced to smooth, pale planes.

Rendered in a distinctly modernist style, the painting embraces abstraction through flattened forms, pared-back anatomy, and a near-collage approach to composition. The figures are constructed with bold, interlocking shapes, their outlines subtly broken and reassembled with gestural marks that lend a sense of movement and quiet fragmentation.

The palette is dominated by layered greens – ranging from mint and sage to deeper teal – punctuated by fresh accents of lemon yellow, sky blue, and hints of charcoal and white. These colours create a luminous, almost sunlit atmosphere, evoking nature without depicting it literally.

Brushwork is confident: broad, matte planes of colour are interrupted by swift, expressive strokes and linear marks that cut across the surface. These gestural accents introduce rhythm and spontaneity, softening the otherwise graphic structure and adding depth to the composition.

Altogether, the piece captures a fleeting human connection – poised somewhere between stillness and conversation.

This oil on canvas is presented in a frame that features a slim profile with a soft, brushed gold finish. The painting is in good vintage condition overall. There are some light marks to the painting, most notably near the face of the figure on the right. The frame shows minor scuffing consistent with age.

Size: 83 x 63 cm (including frame)