Alfred Wahlberg - Vid Stäke, 1859

Alfred Wahlberg (Swedish, 1834–1906) Sweden

Vid Stäke, 1859

oil on paper
unframed 27.7 × 39.3 cm (10.9 × 15.5 in)
framed 39.5 × 51 cm (15.6 × 20.1 in)
lower left: "Vid Stäke 26 aug 1859"

Essay:
Vid Stäke is a richly observed study of forest vegetation painted on location at Stäket, a area north of Stockholm. The composition centers on a fallen tree trunk surrounded by mossy rocks and dense summer foliage in a quiet forest interior. Wahlberg captures this humble corner of nature with spontaneous, rapid brushstrokes, imparting an impressionistic vitality to the play of light and shadow across leaves and timber. The small format and inscribed date suggest the work was painted en plein air on that August day, conveying an intimate, momentary impression of the landscape. Despite its modest scale, the painting evokes the tactile textures of bark, stone, and undergrowth with remarkable immediacy, emphasizing direct observation of nature’s forms and atmosphere.

This early work exemplifies Alfred Wahlberg’s emerging interest in painting directly from nature and hints at the freer technique he would later adopt. Focusing on a natural motif of wild vegetation and a decaying tree, the artist aligns himself with a mid-19th-century trend toward naturalism, akin to the outdoor studies of the Barbizon school. Rather than a grand panoramic view, he selects an ordinary forest scene and renders it with loose, expressive handling, indicating a keen attention to light effects and the transient qualities of the landscape. The vigorous brushwork and fresh, unpolished character of Vid Stäke reveal Wahlberg’s instinct for capturing the immediate visual impression of his surroundings, a quality that presages his role in bringing a more modern, impressionistic spirit to Swedish landscape painting.

Alfred Wahlberg was a leading figure in 19th-century Swedish landscape art. Trained in the academic Düsseldorf tradition, he later became one of the first Swedish painters to embrace the new French approach to landscape painting. Moving to Paris in the 1860s, he absorbed influences from the plein air naturalism and early Impressionist style, which he blended with the detailed realism of his Scandinavian roots. This synthesis of techniques earned Wahlberg international acclaim, including medals at the Paris Salons of 1870 and 1872. His atmospheric vistas of Nordic scenery, ranging from sunlit archipelagos to moonlit forests, were celebrated in his lifetime and influenced a generation of artists in Sweden. Today, Wahlberg’s work is represented in major collections such as Stockholm’s Nationalmuseum, underscoring his significance in the development of Swedish landscape painting.

Condition: The painting is in good condition, with only minor age-related wear visible along the paper edges. It is presented in a period-style frame with protective glass.