Soldat 1917

Gosta Adrian-Nilsson made this painting, Soldat, with oil on canvas. GAN, as he was known, was a Swedish modernist. You can see it in the painting’s crisp geometry. The painting's smooth surface speaks to a desire to move away from the visible labor of the artist and their hand. But in fact, the painting’s composition reflects the artist's critical view of society: A soldier is seated at a table, calmly dealing cards, with a cigarette dangling from his lips. It’s a symbol of detachment and a critique of war. By engaging with these materials and processes, GAN used the language of modernism to make a broader comment on the human condition. This reflects the artist's engagement with social issues and the human cost of conflict.