Garden Gathering

A lively mid-century modernist oil painting that presents a group of figures gathered in a semi-abstract outdoor scene, by Swedish artist Eric Elfvén (1921–2008), whose works have been exhibited in public collections including the Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Jönköping Museum, Borås Art Museum, and the Victoria and Albert Museum in London.

The arrangement suggests a social gathering – figures standing and seated together, framed by architecture on one side and lush garden foliage on the other.

Executed in a modernist style, the piece blends figuration with abstraction. Strongly simplified forms and flattened planes dominate, with outlines and shadow blocks creating sculptural presence. The absence of facial detail recalls both cubist reduction and expressionist distortion, allowing colour and rhythm to take precedence over narrative realism.

The palette is bold yet harmonious, with deep navy and forest greens offset by vibrant pinks, oranges, and sky blues. Light falls diagonally across the canvas, producing rich contrasts between shadowed areas and illuminated patches. The brushstrokes are broad, gestural, and confident, with layered pigment applied in sweeping movements that build both depth and dynamism.

This oil on board is presented in a complementary gilt frame. The painting is in excellent vintage condition. The frame has some minor scuffing.

Size: 36.5 x 40.5 cm (including frame)