Folke Skoghäll oil painting

This oil painting on canvas was created by Swedish artist Folke Skoghäll (1921–1998) in the 1960s and is representative of the Concretist movement. The composition is constructed entirely from geometric forms—triangles, trapezoids, and polygons—that intersect and layer across the surface in a structured yet rhythmic arrangement. The palette is composed of muted, earthy tones, including ochres, warm greys, faded pinks, terracotta, muted greens, and desaturated blues. These colors are carefully balanced to create depth and movement through variation in tone, rather than relying on sharp contrasts.

The painting is executed with a precise application of flat color, and there is minimal visible brushwork, which emphasizes the two-dimensionality and constructed nature of the image. This aligns with the principles of Concretism, a form of geometric abstraction that emerged in the mid-20th century across Europe and Latin America. Concretism rejected symbolic or figurative content in favor of self-referential, autonomous forms, a characteristic approach that is evident in this piece.

Folke Skoghäll, active primarily in Sweden during the mid to late 20th century, was part of the Nordic wave of abstraction at a time when Swedish art was increasingly influenced by international modernist currents. Though his work is not widely known outside of specialist circles, Skoghäll’s contributions reflect the Scandinavian variant of Concretism, often more subtle and tonal than its continental counterparts.

The painting is housed in a period-appropriate wooden frame with worn gilding, and areas of red paint are visible beneath the surface, indicating signs of age and contributing to the historical character of the piece.

The dimensions of the painting are 63.5 cm in width, 3 cm in depth, and 49 cm in height, which corresponds to approximately 25 inches wide, 1.2 inches deep, and 19.3 inches high.