The Bird & the Pears

A wonderfully whimsical 20th century still life depicting an arrangement of ripe green pears alongside a vibrant bouquet of flowers in a white ceramic bowl, 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.

Set upon a richly coloured, red-orange tabletop, the composition features two whole pears and a delicately sliced half, their rounded forms contrasting with the lively abundance of flowers. A small brown bird perches atop the floral arrangement, while a curious framed depiction of a pear in the background introduces a playful, almost surreal element.

Executed in tempera, the painting embraces a distinctive modernist style, characterised by simplified forms, flattened perspectives and a charmingly naive approach to representation. The artist employs a rich, expressive palette of vivid greens, mustard yellows, earthy browns, fiery reds and brilliant blues, balanced against deep charcoal and muted grey backgrounds. The interplay of geometric shapes, decorative patterns and unexpected proportions lends the composition a delightful sense of rhythm and individuality.

The brushwork is confident and deliberately unrefined, with broad, opaque passages of colour defining the fruit and tabletop. Subtle tonal variations and visible brushstrokes lend texture and dimension to the pears, while the flowers are rendered through spontaneous dabs, stippled marks and playful touches of colour. The contrast between these intricate decorative details and the painting’s bold, simplified forms creates a wonderfully dynamic visual effect.

This tempera on board is presented in a complementary wooden frame, complemented by an elegant gilt inner border. There are some surface marks to the painting and minor scuffs to the frame, consistent with age.

Size: 29.5 x 34.5 cm (including frame)