Gustaf Hellström, 1882-1953, författare 1913

This portrait of Gustaf Hellström was painted by Nils Dardel, but when, where, and with what remains open to the imagination. I can imagine that Dardel started by laying down thin washes of paint, letting the grey of the ground peek through. Then, the artist begins building up the planes of Hellström’s face with short, choppy brushstrokes, like Cezanne. I wonder what was going through Dardel’s mind as he painted. Was he trying to capture Hellström’s likeness, or was he more interested in exploring the possibilities of paint? I suspect the latter: see how the artist lets his marks pool and blend, creating a sense of depth and volume. Note how the eyes seem to follow you around the room; that’s Dardel’s magic, channeling something deep and unknowable. I can imagine him in conversation with other painters, past and present, each stroke a response to their ideas, pushing the boundaries of what painting can be.