Bruno Liljefors
Wild Sweden

After two exhibitions dedicated to Carl Larsson (2014) and Anders Zorn (2017), the Petit Palais pays tribute to Bruno Liljefors and announces the final act of its programming around the illustrious Swedish trio “ABC”, whose name is derived from the association of the first letters of each of their first names.

Less known than Carl Larsson and Anders Zorn, Bruno Liljefors is a key figure in the Scandinavian art scene of the late 19th century. Through this very first presentation to the French public, the Petit Palais aims to reveal Liljefors’ pictorial virtuosity and original contribution to the construction of the imagery of Swedish nature.

This unprecedented exhibition will present a set of 100 works (paintings, drawings and photographs) whose subjects are exclusively dedicated to Swedish nature and the animals that inhabit it.

Passionate about the living world in all its diversity, a keen observer, Liljefors captures ospreys atop maritime pines, eiders evolving on the cold waters of archipelagos, and capercaillies parading in the forests.

A virtuoso treatment of light and atmosphere characterizes his style. His aesthetic research is influenced by Japonisme and Far Eastern art, as evidenced by the arrangement of some of his paintings within large gilded frames, giving the whole a decorative aspect.

At a time when biodiversity conservation has become a major issue, Liljefors, beyond his role as a champion of Swedish nature, invites us to become aware of the entire living world of which we are a part.

General curators

Annick Lemoine, Head Curator, Director of the Petit Palais.
In collaboration with Anne-Charlotte Cathelineau, chief curator at the Petit Palais.

Specialist curators

Sandra Buratti-Hasan, Curator at the Musée des Beaux-arts de Bordeaux;
Carl-Johan Olsson, 19th-century Painting Curator at the Nationalmuseum of Stockholm.