Valley Walk

A joyful and expressive mid-century landscape painting, executed in oil by the established Swedish artist Uno Vallman (1913-2004) whose works are included in the Swedish National Museum and The Swedish Modern Museum, to name a few. His works are also included in the collections of Lyndon Johnson, Jimmy Carter, and the Tessin Institute in Paris.

This painting captures a gently winding path leading through a lush, sunlit valley, framed by softly rising mountains in the distance. Two loosely rendered figures stroll along the road, adding a quiet sense of human presence and narrative. Nestled among the greenery, vivid red houses punctuate the scene, their warmth contrasting beautifully against the cool blues of the sky and distant peaks.

Containing elements of fauvism and expressionism, the work embraces simplicity and spontaneity. The composition is outlined with confident, almost childlike black contour lines, giving structure while allowing the colour to remain playful and free. The palette is fresh and uplifting: soft blue skies, mint and sage greens, punctuated with dabs of lemon yellow, and coral.

Brushstrokes are loose, textured, and instinctive, with areas of visible layering that create movement and energy across the surface. There is a lovely rhythm in the repetition of the trees and the undulating path, guiding the eye naturally through the composition. Overall, the piece evokes a sense of lightness and pastoral charm, capturing not just a place, but a feeling of ease and quiet joy.

This oil on canvas is present in a beautiful gilt frame that features a stepped, moulded profile with subtle ridging that draws the eye inward. The painting has small areas of craquelure present, including a minor area of slightly loose paint within the upper sky. The frame shows some scuffing consistent with age. 

Size: 57.5 x 65 cm (including frame)