Brita's Forty Winks 1895

Carl Larsson painted this watercolor, titled "Brita's Forty Winks," at the end of the 19th century, in Sweden. Larsson was a key figure in the Arts and Crafts movement, which prioritized handcrafted objects over mass-produced ones and often referenced folk art traditions. This painting exemplifies the movement. We see a domestic interior featuring hand-painted floral designs and a traditional Swedish stove. The bright colors and focus on the everyday reflect a desire to celebrate simple, wholesome living, removed from the industrial world. Larsson was also interested in depicting children in a natural, unposed way. Here, his daughter Brita is shown asleep on the floor, a charming scene that emphasizes the beauty and innocence of childhood. To understand Larsson's work fully, we might research the Arts and Crafts movement, Swedish folk art, and the changing role of childhood in the late 19th century. Art is always made in dialogue with its specific social and institutional context.