Ulf and Pontus - Carl Larsson

A 1894 watercolour by Carl Larsson depicting his sons, Ulf and Pontus, dressed in military costumes within their family home.

Carl Larsson produced this watercolour in 1894, capturing his sons, Ulf and Pontus, in a moment of playful imitation. The work belongs to a period where Larsson focused on the domestic life of his family at Lilla Hyttnäs, his home in Sundborn. The boys are dressed in military-style costumes, complete with helmets and toy swords, reflecting the imaginative games common in the Larsson household. Larsson employs a precise, linear style, using delicate washes of colour to define the figures and the surrounding interior. The composition is balanced, with the boys positioned before a fireplace mantel adorned with various decorative objects, including a small bust and a ceramic jug. The inclusion of a framed picture above the mantel adds a layer of depth, suggesting the lived-in quality of the family home. The boys' expressions are captured with a sense of gentle observation, typical of Larsson's approach to portraiture. He avoids sentimentality, preferring to document the specificities of his children's appearance and their immediate environment. The colour palette is restrained, relying on soft tones that allow the details of the boys' uniforms and the blue chair to emerge. The light appears natural, filtering into the room to illuminate the scene without harsh contrast. This work demonstrates Larsson's technical proficiency with watercolour, a medium he favoured for its ability to convey clarity and light. The piece offers a glimpse into the private world of the artist, documenting the growth of his children and the aesthetic environment he curated for his family. It remains a clear example of his ability to elevate everyday family life into a subject of artistic merit, maintaining a focus on the interplay between the figures and their domestic setting.