A compelling mid-century abstract figurative composition, executed in oil onto board by the established Swedish artist Gunnar Johnsson (1917–2007), whose artworks have represented in public collections including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Sweden, the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, and the Skåne Art Association.

The painting depicts a seated female figure, her body filling the composition with a strong yet contemplative presence. Her face is turned slightly to one side, with features loosely articulated through sweeping lines and broad passages of colour. The figure is built from overlapping, fragmented forms, giving the work an intriguing tension between recognisable portraiture and abstraction.

Executed in an expressive modernist style, the composition reduces the figure and surrounding interior into simplified, irregular planes. Facial features, hair and clothing are suggested rather than precisely rendered, with areas of the body appearing to dissolve into the softly worked background.

The palette is dominated by coral red, crimson, dusty rose and deep burgundy, balanced by warm cream, chalky white, pale yellow and touches of powder blue and muted grey. The concentration of richer reds around the face and body draws the figure forward against the understated background.

Brushwork is loose, gestural and wonderfully tactile, with visible directional strokes tracing the contours of the face and clothing. Areas of thicker, worked paint contrast with thin, softly brushed passages, while scratched and dragged marks lend the surface a sense of immediacy and movement. The overall effect is expressive and intimate, capturing the figure through colour and gesture rather than conventional likeness.

This oil on canvas is housed in a complementary gilt frame. The painting presents with a small area of craquelure to the upper left, which is stable. Overall, the work remains in good vintage condition, with minor signs of age consistent with its period.

A contemplative and uniquely textured mid-century figurative portrait depicting a seated man rendered in profile, executed in oil onto canvas.

Wearing a dark flat cap and simple jacket, the figure appears absorbed in thought, his posture relaxed yet dignified. The composition conveys a sense of introspection and quiet resilience, with the sitter emerging gently from an abstracted background.

Executed in an expressive modernist manner, the painting balances representation with abstraction. The artist reduces the figure to essential forms and gestures, allowing mood and character to take precedence over precise detail. The sparse setting and generous negative space draw attention to the sitter’s presence while enhancing the work’s meditative quality.

The palette is restrained and sophisticated, dominated by soft greys, pale creams, muted whites, and subtle blue-grey tones. Delicate accents of olive green and warm earth colours animate the face and clothing, lending warmth and humanity to the otherwise cool composition. The contrast between the dark cap and the luminous background creates a striking focal point.

The brushwork is loose, painterly, and highly expressive. Broad, sweeping strokes define the background, while layered passages of thicker paint and textured applications bring life to the sitter’s features. Sketch-like linear marks remain visible in areas of the clothing, revealing the artist’s process and lending an immediacy to the work. The combination of fluid washes, dry-brush effects, and impasto-like textures creates a rich surface that rewards close inspection.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary slim black-toned wood frame. The painting and frame are both in  good vintage condition.

Size: 69 x 56 cm (including frame)

A striking mid-century portrait that captures a female figure in profile with her with her eyes gently closed, immersed in a moment of quiet reflection, executed in oil onto canvas.

Her simplified features, wrapped headscarf, and composed posture lend the work a sense of serenity and inner contemplation. Rather than engaging the viewer directly, the figure appears absorbed in her own thoughts, creating an atmosphere of calm dignity and introspection.

The artist has used simplified forms and broad planes of colour rather than detailed realism. The figure is constructed through confident shapes, creating a powerful presence while retaining an air of softness and introspection. The profile view recalls the refined portraiture of mid-century European modernism, where character is conveyed through form, colour, and mood rather than precise detail.

The palette is beautifully balanced, combining warm earth tones, deep charcoal blacks, muted greens, creamy whites, and delicate blush-pink hues in the background. These colours create a harmonious contrast, with the subtle pink ground imparting a gentle luminosity that enhances the figure’s silhouette.

Brushwork is loose yet deliberate, with visible painterly strokes and layered applications of paint contributing texture and depth. Areas of exposed underpainting and softened edges reinforce the work’s spontaneous, expressive quality, while the confident handling of colour and form imbues the portrait with timeless sophistication.

This oil on canvas is presented in an attractive frame with a warm gilt-toned finish and cream inner slip. The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and there is a small loss to the bottom left corner of the frame but this does not detract from its overall attractiveness.

Size: 60.5 x 52.5 cm (including frame)