Artwork
Wild Geese
Wild Geese is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Bruno Liljefors. It dates from 1900 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This subject aligns with the animal art genre and reflects an interest in wildlife observation characteristic of late‑19th‑century Scandinavian naturalism.
The painting depicts a flock of geese in flight, a motif that Liljefors used to convey themes of migration and natural harmony. The birds are rendered with detailed plumage and dynamic composition, emphasizing their movement across an open sky. This subject aligns with the animal art genre and reflects an interest in wildlife observation characteristic of late‑19th‑century Scandinavian naturalism.
Technique & Style
Wild Geese is an oil painting on canvas created in 1898 by Bruno Liljefors. The work measures 161 cm in height and 411.3 cm in width and is executed in oil paint on canvas support, reflecting a naturalistic animal genre style characteristic of late 19th-century European painting. It is housed in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it remains on display.
History & Provenance
Wild Geese is an oil painting on canvas by Bruno Liljefors dated 1898. According to the Wikidata record for the work, it was created in 1898 and is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst, where it is currently located. The sources do not provide information about a commissioning party, an earlier ownership chain, intermediate owners, or any acquisition history prior to the painting's entry into the Statens Museum for Kunst collection. No details regarding purchase, donation, or transfer are documented in the available material.
Wild Geese is held in the collection of the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen, where it is located on display. The oil-on-canvas work, depicting Anserini geese, measures 161 cm in height and 411.3 cm in width. While the museum's ownership is established, the provided records do not list a specific inventory or accession number for the piece. Furthermore, no details regarding the painting's exhibition history or loan record are included in the available sources.
Overview
Created in 1900, Wild Geese is an oil painting by Swedish artist Bruno Liljefors. The canvas is dominated by a large group of geese that occupy most of the surface, set against a dark shoreline and a sky illuminated in pink‑orange hues reminiscent of sunset. The work is part of the collection of Denmark’s Statens Museum for Kunst.
Context
The work reflects Liljefors’s broader interest in depicting animals in moments of drama or tension, a hallmark of his oeuvre. Emerging from the post‑impressionist movement, the painting balances realistic observation with a heightened emotional tone, aligning with contemporary European trends that sought to convey the fleeting effects of light and atmosphere in outdoor scenes.
Artist & collection
Artist
Bruno Andreas Liljefors (Swedish pronunciation: ; 14 May 1860 – 18 December 1939) was a Swedish artist.
