Grove in Repose

A compelling abstract landscape with figures composition, painted in oil  in 1946 by the established Swedish artist Ivar Morsing (1919-2009), whose works have been exhibited in public collections including the National Museum in Stockholm, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Kalmar Museum, and Jönköping Museum.

A loose procession of trees stands across a gently undulating terrain, their elongated trunks and clustered canopies forming rhythmic vertical accents against an expansive, open ground. The composition suggests a quiet pathway or clearing, inviting the viewer into a moment of stillness and contemplation.

Small yet effective in its composition, the artist balances abstraction with suggestion, allowing the trees and landforms to emerge through simplified silhouettes and gestural marks. The scene feels atmospheric rather than descriptive, prioritising mood and spatial harmony over precise detail.

The colour palette is beautifully restrained, featuring soft sandy browns, muted greens, and warm earth tones, offset by cooler hints of blue-grey and. Subtle variations in tone create depth while maintaining a cohesive, meditative calm throughout the composition.

The brushwork is expressive, with dry-brush textures and broken strokes allowing the raw canvas to breathe through the paint layers. Areas of loose stippling and softened edges lend the trees a sense of movement and presence, while the open ground is rendered with broader, horizontal sweeps that enhance the painting’s quiet, expansive atmosphere.

This oil on canvas is housed in a complementary gilt frame. The painting is in very good vintage condition. The frame shows scuffs and signs of age, with some areas of gilding chipped away, consistent with its age. 

Size: 21 x 33 cm (including frame)