John Blund 1927

Nils Dardel created this painting called John Blund, and even without a date, it feels like it comes from a different era, a time when fairy tales felt closer to everyday life. Dardel doesn’t try to hide the process of painting here. You can see the brushstrokes, the way the colors blend, almost like he’s inviting us to watch him create this dreamlike world. Looking closely, the texture is smooth, almost like it was painted on a wall. The colors aren’t super vibrant, but they have this soft, muted quality. The blues and reds contrast so directly, but they don't clash. It’s like he’s using color to lull us into a state of gentle unease. What really gets me is how that light is painted, that sphere is so hypnotic. This painting reminds me of Paula Modersohn-Becker, the German expressionist. They both share this raw, honest approach to painting, and that ability to blend childlike wonder with a mature understanding of form and color. Art isn’t about giving answers, it’s about creating spaces where questions can float freely.