Erik Tryggelin

Sankt Matteus Church in Stockholm, 1907

1907

Erik Tryggelin (1878–1962) Erik Tryggelin was a Swedish painter, draughtsman and photographer, born in Stockholm in 1878. He studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm before continuing his artistic training in Paris between 1911 and 1913, where he encountered the international art scene and the emerging currents of modernism. Although exposed to avant-garde movements during his time in Paris, Tryggelin remained committed to a more traditional, observational style of painting rooted in the late nineteenth-century plein-air tradition. His works are often characterized by atmospheric light, balanced compositions, and a quiet narrative quality. Tryggelin became particularly known for his depictions of Swedish towns and landscapes, frequently portraying motifs from Stockholm, Visby and especially Vadstena. His paintings often capture tranquil streets, waterfronts and everyday scenes, rendered with a subtle sensitivity to mood and evening light. Today Erik Tryggelin’s work is represented in several important Swedish collections, including Nationalmuseum, Nordiska museet, Stockholm City Museum and Uppsala University Library. His paintings offer a poetic glimpse of Swedish urban and rural life during the early twentieth century and remain appreciated for their calm atmosphere and finely observed sense of place. This exhibition presents a selection of paintings by Erik Tryggelin, highlighting his distinctive interpretation of Swedish landscapes and historic towns.