Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style [Hardcover]

Michael Snodin (Author), Elisabet Hidemark (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 1998

Carl Larsson (1853-1919) is Sweden's best-loved artist and is known around the world for his paintings of his home and family. At their famous house at Sundborn, in central Sweden, Carl and his wife, Karin, a textile designer, created a series of revolutionary interiors that combined old furniture and objects with startlingly modern concepts of color and design. These designs gave way to a new approach to interior design that continues to influence designers today. This book presents the Larssons as designers and as creators of a remarkable domestic ideal. It sets them in their artistic and social context, using contemporary photographs and comparative pictures. At its heart are the remarkable Ett hem paintings and a series of color photographs showing the interiors at Sundborn and Karin's textiles.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch (April 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821224816
• ISBN-13: 978-0821224816
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,893 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

66 of 66 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book makes me happy., July 10, 1998

By 

Bonny (Cedar Crest, NM United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style (Hardcover)

I ordered this book sight-unseen as a gift, and thought "well, I like Carl Larsson's paintings, I'll get one for myself while I'm at it." I'm so glad I did! I realize that, before reading this delicious book, I had never really "seen" a Carl Larsson painting before. I didn't know that all those happy Swedish ninteenth-century domestic watercolor scenes actually documented Larsson's home and family, and I had no idea that his wife Karin was the creator of the fabrics, co-creator of the furniture and equal partner in what is not only a beautiful and original home environment, but one that has influenced interior design to this day, a hundred year later.

The text is written by different experts. I am not really sure that I come away from it with much sense of the Larssons' personalities in a detailed way, but the work speaks for itself and I consider this book to be more than just a valuable addition to my art library, but also as a great read and, even more -- a great "look".

51 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I love this book!, July 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style (Hardcover)

Aside from the fact a reader will gain new appreciation for the Larssons and their art, a reason to purchase this book is that it is gorgeous. Good paper, excellent color reproductions, a nice heft. If you admire Larsson and Scandinavian culture, this book is a "must have."

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style, August 1, 2009

By 

Kristine L. Ogle (Clifton, Colorado United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Carl and Karin Larsson: Creators of the Swedish Style (Hardcover)

I Love this book! Carl and Karin Larsson were such a wonderful creative couple. Their use of bold fresh colors takes your breath away, and makes you want to follow their example. I highly recommend this book, it is definately a keeper!