Under the Desert Sky

A compelling abstract landscape with figure oil composition, painted in 1961 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.

The painting captures a quiet moment of communal gathering in what appears to be a sun-drenched desert setting. A group of robed figures, seated in a loose circle, are rendered in simplified forms that emphasise posture and gesture rather than facial detail – inviting the viewer to focus on atmosphere and collective presence over individual identity.

The style is modernist and pared-back, with strong influences of mid-century abstraction. The artist distils the scene into broad planes of colour: a soft blue sky meeting a warm band of yellow horizon, and earthy tones of russet, sand and umber defining the ground. The figures themselves appear as sculptural blocks of white, cream, black and deep brown, forming a rhythmic arrangement across the composition.

Brushstrokes are thick, confident, and deliberately visible, with the paint applied in textured swathes that give the work a grounded, tactile quality. The artist’s expressive technique conveys a sense of stillness and the intimate social rituals of desert life.

This oil on board is presented in a complementary ridged gilt frame.  The painting is in excellent vintage condition, and the frame has some wear to its corners as shown.

Size: 28.5 x 47.5 cm (including frame)