Mammas and the small girls 1897

Carl Larsson created this watercolour titled 'Mammas and the small girls' in Sweden at the turn of the 20th century. It depicts a domestic scene with his daughters in a simply decorated room. Larsson's paintings offer insight into the cultural values of the Swedish middle class during a period of industrialization and urbanization. His focus on family life and the home can be seen as a response to anxieties about modernity and the changing role of women. The style is folksy, even as the scene is carefully staged: this wasn't reality TV. The painting projects a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time. To understand Larsson's work fully, we might consult sources like family letters, exhibition reviews, and writings on Swedish cultural history. By studying these materials, we can better understand the complex interplay between art, society, and the changing world that shaped the artist's vision. Larsson’s image of domesticity creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations.