J.A.G. (Johan Axel Gustaf) Acke – Dragonfly’s Christmas Leaf

J.A.G. (Johan Axel Gustaf) Acke (1859–1924), “Dragonfly’s Christmas Leaf,” ink and watercolor on paper, H. 23.5 cm; W. 16 cm, signed “Acke” lower right.

Painter, illustrator, and a key figure of the Swedish-Finnish artistic movement, Johan Acke made a mark at the end of the 19th century with his passion for Nordic folklore and poetic imagination. A close friend of August Strindberg and member of the Åland artist colony, he oscillated between naturalism and fantasy, between myth and everyday life.

In this illustration created for the Christmas journal Sländans Julblad, Acke showcases his full narrative talent. A child gazes, fascinated, at a fairy-dragonfly through the window of a snowy cabin, while elves, fantastical creatures, and animated vegetation compose a winter scene both dreamlike and theatrical. The richness of detail, the expressive use of ink, and watercolor touches enhance the magical effect.

A rare testimony of Acke’s graphic art, this work combines visual fantasy, Christmas spirit, and symbolist influences within a deeply Nordic aesthetic.

Provenance:
Collection Claes Moser, Villa Akleija, Vaxholm.
Stockholms Auktionsverk, Claes Mosers samling av J.A.G Acke, September 25, 2023, cat. no. 78.

Condition Report

The drawing is in good condition.
The sheet is not laid down.
The support is sound and stable.
It shows a few small stains scattered across the surface of the work.
It shows no losses, tears, or creases.

Sold in a glazed frame with two losses in the upper part.
Please note that Ferli Fine Art does not guarantee the condition of the frames.