Summer Reading

The figures They sit on mint-green folding chairs, one reading while the other holds a small object in her hands – perhaps a flower or letter – suggesting a gentle intimacy and stillness in the moment. Beyond them, pastel-hued cottages with pitched roofs and sunlit façades peek through the trees, evoking the charm of a summer afternoon in a peaceful village garden.

The colour palette is rich – cool sage, olive, and moss greens intersect with muted stone greys and soft sky blues, creating a harmonious balance between earth and air. The sky is painted in a smooth gradient of pale blue, acting as a calm contrast to the dynamic, textured land below. Each stroke is deliberate and expressive, laid down with visible directionality, giving the impression of wind pushing across the hillsides.

Executed in a modernist-impressionist manner characteristic of mid-century Scandinavian painting, the artist has used broad, confident brushstrokes and a light, airy palette. The treatment of form is simplified yet expressive, focusing on the harmony of colour and light rather than detail.

The composition is suffused with soft greens, pale blues, buttery yellows, and lavender shadows, creating a tranquil, sun-dappled atmosphere. The brushwork is loose and painterly, with visible strokes that suggest movement in the leaves and shimmering sunlight across the grass.

This oil on canvas is presented in a complementary wood frame with an inner and outer gilt window. Both the painting and frame are in excellent vintage condition. 

Size: 63.5 x 78 cm (including frame)