Picture Study: Carl Larsson
Today we are beginning a picture study of Swedish illustrator and artist Carl Larsson. His watercolors have such an uplifting quality; it makes me happy to look at the simple images of his beautiful home and family of eight children. These paintings, Larsson wrote in his autobiography, “became the most immediate and lasting part of my life’s work. For these pictures are, of course, a very genuine expression of my personality, of my deepest feelings, of all my limitless love for my wife and children.”
I wasn’t surprised when I learned that Carl and his wife Karin had ties to the Arts and Crafts movement led by William Morris in England. The artistic interior of his home in Sunborn is featured in many of Larsson’s paintings. (You can see photographs of the Larsson home, Lilla Hyttnäs, now open as a museum, at the official homepage of Carl Larsson.)
Above: Self-portrait. Below: A House in the Sun, Carl Larsson’s most famous piece.
The following schedule is a basic outline of what paintings I want to study each week. If you are unfamiliar with the purpose and method of picture study, scroll down to see a sample from my lesson plans.
Week One:
Tuesday—Picture Study: Lucia Morning.
Week Two:
Tuesday— Picture Study: Christmas Evening.
Week Three:
Tuesday: Picture Study: Christmas Break.
Week Four:
Tuesday—Picture Study: Esbjörn Doing His Homework.
Week Five:
Tuesday—Picture Study: A House in the Sun.
Week Six:
Tuesday—Picture Study: The Oldest Son.
Below: The Oldest Son.
Sample Lesson Plan (Grades 2 and 4)
OBJECTS
•To introduce children to the art of Carl Larsson.
•To introduce the children to the Swedish tradition of St. Lucia’s Day.
•To increase their powers of attention and observation.
•To cultivate worthy thought and a keen sense of beauty.
MATERIALS
•Large, high-quality prints of Lucia Morning. [A large print can be found in the book The World of Carl Larsson.]
LESSON
Step I.—Display a self-portrait of Carl Larsson. Introduce the children to this Swedish illustrator and artist, distinguished as the “Artist for Sweden.” Tell how his paintings of his home, farm, and family made him famous throughout the world because of their beauty and happiness. Find Sweden on a map of the world. Note that the countries of Denmark, Sweden, and Finland are known collectively as Scandinavia (the land of Vikings!).
Step II.—Tell them that in Scandinavian cultures, December 13 is celebrated as St. Lucia’s Day. It was believed to be the shortest day of the year, the winter solstice. Lucia, or Lucy, is a name meaning “light,” and the people celebrated the saint’s day with candles and bonfires—a defiance to the darkest day.
In the darkness of the early morning, the oldest daughter of a family (Suzanne in the Larsson family) dresses in a white gown, with a red sash binding her waist and a wreath of lingonberry (a plant with round, glossy leaves and bright red berries) and candles crowning her hair. She brings hot coffee and sweet treats (such as saffron buns and ginger snaps) on a tray to her parent’s bedroom, waking them with traditional Lucia songs.
Step III.—Give the the children the picture Lucia Morning to look at, and ask them to find out all they can about it.
Step IV.— After three or four minutes, take the picture away and see what the children noticed. Have the children tell about the traditions of Lucia morning, incorporating imagery from Carl Larsson’s painting.
Optional—Those with a computer with internet access may wish to show the children this YouTube video of a young Swedish girl singing “So Dark is the Night” at a St. Lucia’s Day concert in Stockholm.
Below: Breakfast in the Open.
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SUE STIRLING said...
Hi. Carl Larsson is one of my favorite artists! I am a newly qualified teacher, and I was delighted to come across your blog today. Thank you for sharing; I appreciate it so much. —Sue Stirling
Sunday, January 29, 2012 09:36 PM
HANDMAIDEN said...
Hello, Sue! Thank you for stopping by and taking the time to comment.
Carl Larsson is a recent discovery of mine, and I’ve enjoyed learning about his and his paintings with my brothers over the last several weeks. Renoir is next on our list!
Monday, January 30, 2012 04:31 PM
Tuesday, December 20, 2011