Knud Holar oil painting

This original oil painting by Knud Holar, titled H-P–VIII and created in the 1960s, is a refined example of Scandinavian concretism—a movement rooted in non-representational geometric abstraction and formal clarity. Executed in oil on canvas, the composition emphasizes a system of layered, hard-edged shapes arranged with calculated precision. The visual language relies entirely on form, color, and spatial tension, aligning with the concretist tenet that painting should be autonomous and non-symbolic.

The color palette consists of subdued, earthy tones—terracotta, ochre, burnt sienna, and deep umber—organized into a grid-like interplay of overlapping forms. The use of transparency and layering contributes to an optical rhythm, where certain areas appear to advance or recede, despite the overall flatness of the canvas. This subtle modulation of tone and contrast gives the work a sense of internal architecture, emphasizing Holar’s careful orchestration of form and chromatic balance.

The painting is signed “K. Holar” in the lower right corner. On the reverse, an original artist’s label and biographical information are affixed, situating the work within Holar’s broader artistic production. Born in 1914, Knud Holar was an active participant in the Scandinavian concretist movement during the postwar decades. His work was informed by the principles of European modernism and geometric abstraction, particularly the non-objective schools that emerged in the 1940s and 1950s. Holar exhibited in prominent venues including Lunds Konsthall, Malmö Museum, and in galleries across London, Brussels, and Krakow. He was affiliated with organizations such as Konstnärernas Riksorganisation (KRO) and Skånska Konstnärsklubben, which supported the dissemination of modernist ideas in Sweden.

The painting is housed in a minimalist wooden frame, likely original to the piece. The frame’s narrow profile and natural tone reinforce the painting’s architectural focus without drawing attention away from the canvas. The condition of the work is very good: the surface is clean, the paint is stable, and the canvas remains taut. There are no signs of overpainting or restoration, and the colors retain their original saturation.

The dimensions are 53 × 53 cm (approximately 20.9 × 20.9 inches). This piece exemplifies Holar’s mature style and stands as a significant document of Scandinavian postwar abstraction. Its disciplined geometry and tonal restraint position it firmly within the concretist tradition, offering a meditative engagement with structure, proportion, and visual equilibrium.