Carl Eldh | 1873 - 1954
Eldh was from the beginning an ornamental sculptor and worked as such during the renovation of Uppsala Cathedral in the 1890s. During his study years in Paris 1897–1904, he supported himself as a wood carver, among other things. However, the goal was to receive a sculpting education in Paris, where the sculptor Auguste Rodin greatly inspired him. At the 1900 World Exhibition in Paris, he represented Sweden with the sculpture Virgin. The studies at the Académie Colarossi paid off and in 1902 he received a gold medal at the Salon for his works Mother Sorrow and Linnea. His early works are characterized by a soft, almost soulful form, among other things in young nude figures, for example Youth, from 1911.
Gradually, Eldh's style developed towards a powerful realism. The portrait bust of King Oscar II was the first in a long series of public portraits of many of the cultural figures of his time. Here, as in the monumental works, he strives for a purer form, such as the sculptures in the city hall garden at Stockholm's city hall in 1923. The writer (Strindberg), the poet (Fröding) and the painter (Josephson) are all symbolic interpretations of artistry. Greater form disorder can be found in the Rodin-inspired Strindberg monument in Tegnérlunden, Stockholm, from 1916, where Strindberg is depicted as the titan chained to the rock. The bronze in Tegnérlunden first came into place in 1942. Carl Eldh modeled the sculpture “Den unge Strindberg” in the archipelago for August Strindberg's 60th birthday in 1909. It was cast in bronze and set up outside Carl Eldh's studio museum in Bellevue Park in 1968.
Shortly after his return from Paris, he met Elise Persson and in 1907 daughter Brita was born. In 1921 the wife and daughter moved to California to prepare the way for the American market. However, Carl Eldh remained in Sweden. After his death in 1954, the daughter was given an important role in establishing the future museum. Along with Christian Eriksson and Carl Milles, Carl Eldh was the most employed sculptor in Sweden during the first half of the 20th century. He worked with a long line of well-known Swedish architects who were happy to hire him as a sculptor, including Ivar Tengbom, Erik Lallerstedt and Ragnar Östberg. Carl Eldh was commissioned by Ragnar Östberg to decorate the city hall garden with sculptures. Carl Eldh's largest and last completed work is the Branting Monument in high relief at Norra Bantorget, Stockholm. The plaster model was completed in 1942, but the bronze was only put in place in 1952. The monument was ordered as early as 1935, but was first cast in 1947 at Herman Bergman's Konst Gjuteri and was unveiled on June 2, 1952 in ceremonial forms. Eldh represented at, among others, the National Museum, the Modern Museum in Stockholm and the Kalmar Art Museum. Carl Eldh's family grave is in the cemetery at Kyrkhult's church in Blekinge.
Maja in Filmstaden, Solna, Stockholm
Youth in Kalmar, Sala and Gränna, Sweden
August Strindberg in Tegnérlunden, Stockholm
The song in Stadshusparken, Stockholm
Youth, Liseberg in Gothenburg
Strömkarlen on Strömkarlsbron in Trollhättan
Maja Sculpture in Filmstaden in Råsunda
Self-criticism, Rottneros Sculpture Park, Stadshusträdgården Stockholm
