Lille Matts Larsson

Lille Matts Larsson (Little Matts Larsson, 1911) depicts one of Carl Larsson's children — Matts was his youngest son, born in 1900 — in the warm domestic setting of Sundborn. Larsson's eight children were frequent subjects throughout his career, and these portraits combine a father's affection with the close observational skill of a professional draughtsman. By 1911 Larsson had achieved international celebrity following the publication of his illustrated books, and portraits of his family were received not merely as private documents but as extensions of the Sundborn myth he had created. Matts, as the youngest, represented the continuation of the family story well into the twentieth century. The watercolour is held by the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, which owns the largest concentration of Larsson's work.

Watercolour on paper with the precise, affectionate observation characteristic of Larsson's portraits of his children. The child subject requires quick, attentive execution to capture the spontaneity of a young face — Larsson's combination of controlling outline with transparent wash serves this purpose well. The palette is warm and light, suited to an indoor domestic setting.