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A Home: Paintings from a Bygone Age
A Home was first published in Swedish in 1899 under the title Ett Hem. It was accompanied by a text by Carl Larsson which included his ideas on decoration, and a description of his family's life. However it was a German edition, produced in 1909 and entitled Das Haus in der Sonne (The House in the Sun), which became a bestseller - 40,000 copies sold in three months. This book is a revised version of the first English edition, published by G.P. Putnam's Sons of New York in 1974 with text translated from Lennart Rudstrom's 1968 adaptation of Larsson's original words.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1899
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 6, 2020
Wonderful illustrations, these made me think of Kit Williams and Elsa Beskow. A simple look at an artists house seen through the eyes of his young children. This is an unusual slice of life history book. I loved the scenes of painted tiles and stoves and children enjoying outdoor play and swimming in a lake. I loved the dog character stretched out in front the fire and I loved that in the evenings Mother and Father sit together, father reads aloud and mother darns stockings. Nothing much happens in this book, a look at their quiet pace of life and a glimpse into this families lives.
February 24, 2020
One of a number of children's books featuring the artwork of Swedish painter Carl Larsson - see also:
A Farm
and
A Family
- with text (based upon Larsson's own recollections) by Lennart Rudström, this lovely title explores the world of Little Hyttnäs, Larsson's summer home in the countryside. Documenting the gorgeous domestic painting that Larsson did - his groundbreaking style, in painting the rooms and furniture in his house had a great influence on matters of interior design - as well as the life of his family at Little Hyttnäs, the paintings here are paired with informative textual blurbs that give more details about the subjects being presented.
The second of these children's titles I have thus far read - I'm a little puzzled by the claim made by a fellow reviewer, that these aren't children's books, as the text on the back cover explicitly notes that Lennart Rudström wrote them for children - A Home is (naturally) immensely appealing on a visual level, as well as being most informative. I've been an admirer of Larsson's work since first I saw it, at the National Museum in Stockholm, and would love to visit Little Hyttnäs some day, and see some of these scenes in person, so I was pretty much guaranteed to appreciate this one! In addition to the beautiful paintings, the text gives readers an idea of what country life would have been like for Larsson and his family, so many years ago. It is quite extensive, so this is not a picture-book I would recommend to very young children, but for those capable of getting through more challenging texts, who are interested in history and/or art, this would make a lovely gift! I think I need to track down the third picture-book in this series, A Family , as I feel sure I would appreciate it as much as the others.
The second of these children's titles I have thus far read - I'm a little puzzled by the claim made by a fellow reviewer, that these aren't children's books, as the text on the back cover explicitly notes that Lennart Rudström wrote them for children - A Home is (naturally) immensely appealing on a visual level, as well as being most informative. I've been an admirer of Larsson's work since first I saw it, at the National Museum in Stockholm, and would love to visit Little Hyttnäs some day, and see some of these scenes in person, so I was pretty much guaranteed to appreciate this one! In addition to the beautiful paintings, the text gives readers an idea of what country life would have been like for Larsson and his family, so many years ago. It is quite extensive, so this is not a picture-book I would recommend to very young children, but for those capable of getting through more challenging texts, who are interested in history and/or art, this would make a lovely gift! I think I need to track down the third picture-book in this series, A Family , as I feel sure I would appreciate it as much as the others.
January 20, 2016
This beautifully written book describes the reissued watercolor paintings of Carl Larsson, the Swedish artist and designer. The painting of the interiors of the delightful home he shared with his wife Karin and their 7 children truly explain his unique style and how he painted everything he saw, including walks, ceilings, shutters, cupboards, and drawers. He was a woodworker and added on to his small house so many times that is appeared to be hobbit like in its additions. This is not a children's book, but children would enjoy it very much. The details in the interior scenes of his home seem fairytale like in their innocence. Each painting is given a full description with background on how or why he chose the subject matter. It is a nice short biography of Sweden's master artist with uplifting watercolor scenes painted by his own hand.
October 1, 2016
To Carl Larsson there was nothing that you couldn't paint. He painted everything he liked, and he liked almost everything.
Even though my current habit is divesting myself of so many books, I'm inclined to buy the three Larsson books to add to my collection. I tell myself it's for the children, but the truth is I could look at these for hours on end.
This book, based (a translation of?) on Carl Larsson's 1899 book, Ett Hem, is a neat piece of Swedish cultural history.
Here is another Larsson collection that makes me weak in the knees. It was fun to look at three paintings from different perspectives of the same room. The Punishment Corner, Suzanne at the Flower Window (one of my favorites) and The Lazy Corner are worthy of deeper study.
I learned that Larsson first drew a sketch with pencils, then drew with ink, and later painted. This brings both clear distinct lines and the softness of watercolor. The colors remind me of IKEA (not the blue and yellow, but the IKEA look): bits of bold and bright amidst calmer pastels. The Swedish houses were typically filled with dark colors. Larsson painted paneling light colors. They thought he was strange.
The detail draws you in to the paintings. This would be a good book to have on hand for the children!
Even though my current habit is divesting myself of so many books, I'm inclined to buy the three Larsson books to add to my collection. I tell myself it's for the children, but the truth is I could look at these for hours on end.
This book, based (a translation of?) on Carl Larsson's 1899 book, Ett Hem, is a neat piece of Swedish cultural history.
Here is another Larsson collection that makes me weak in the knees. It was fun to look at three paintings from different perspectives of the same room. The Punishment Corner, Suzanne at the Flower Window (one of my favorites) and The Lazy Corner are worthy of deeper study.
I learned that Larsson first drew a sketch with pencils, then drew with ink, and later painted. This brings both clear distinct lines and the softness of watercolor. The colors remind me of IKEA (not the blue and yellow, but the IKEA look): bits of bold and bright amidst calmer pastels. The Swedish houses were typically filled with dark colors. Larsson painted paneling light colors. They thought he was strange.
The detail draws you in to the paintings. This would be a good book to have on hand for the children!
June 10, 2020
This book includes several of Larsson's paintings that I haven't seen in my other books. The descriptions, explaining details of each image, are very helpful, but the text doesn't read smoothly, which may be a translation issue.
I think this is supposed to be for children, but instead of reading it aloud, I'll look at the book with the kids and we can talk about each image, which is when I can add info from the text.
The paintings reproduced here look faded, which is too bad.
I think this is supposed to be for children, but instead of reading it aloud, I'll look at the book with the kids and we can talk about each image, which is when I can add info from the text.
The paintings reproduced here look faded, which is too bad.
August 5, 2009
This beautiful book of Carl Larsson's watercolor paintings is accompanied by Lennart Rudstrom's text. Although it is aimed at children, it is very informative about the Larssons' homelife. Carl's style reminds me a little of Tasha Tudor. This would make a perfect coffee table book.
September 24, 2011
This is not a children's picture book, as I thought, is is more of a coffee table book with Carl Larsson's paintings and some notes about the pictures and about his life. Carl Larsson painted the interior of his home. Grown-up fans of Tasha Tudor and Beatrix Potter will probably like this book.
March 27, 2017
I like this one even a little better than A Farm: Paintings from a Bygone Age, mostly because I love paintings of interiors better than landscapes.
January 10, 2023
Erg mooie illustraties uit klassiek Zweden
July 27, 2019
Beautiful paintings of a time and place I can only imagine.
December 16, 2013
I love this book so much...Carl Larsson's gorgeous paintings and a child-friendly explanation of home life.
Of course, it makes me wish I had paintings on all my doors and walls, and feel like a slacker for not weaving any tablecloths of our own!
Of course, it makes me wish I had paintings on all my doors and walls, and feel like a slacker for not weaving any tablecloths of our own!
December 12, 2008
I found these paintings enchanting. I just love how everything is decorated. Wish my house looked like that!
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December 27, 2019The English translation of this has been on my parents’ shelf for years and I finally read it. Sweet little account of the life of an artist I have always enjoyed.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews