Arvid Knöppel

Arvid Knöppel, The Virgin Mary, Bronzed Wall Relief Plaster Sculpture, Signed.

1921

A wall-mounted Art Nouveau relief by the Swedish sculptor Johannes Collin, signed “JC 96”, represents one of his earliest known works. Executed in plaster, the oval composition features a stylistically mussel shaped base from which emerges the finely modelled face of a young woman with long flowing hair. Her eyes are closed, conveying a sense of calm introspection and timeless beauty. The softly curved forms and delicate modelling create a serene harmony between natural rhythm and sculptural precision. The work is mounted on a later black-painted wooden plaque (26 × 33 cm), while the sculpture itself measures 21 × 18.5 cm. It is an unusually early piece by the artist, displaying craftsmanship and sensitivity. Born in Stockholm in 1873, Johannes Collin trained as a sculptor during the final years of the 19th century, a period marked by the transition from academic historicism to the organic, nature-inspired forms of Art Nouveau (Jugendstil). His early works, such as this 1896 relief, already reveal a refined awareness of contour, proportion, and the poetic interplay between human expression and natural form. Collin studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts (Kungliga Akademien för de fria konsterna) in Stockholm, where he was influenced by sculptors such as John Börjeson and Christian Eriksson. Over the following decades, he developed a personal style that combined naturalistic modelling with decorative rhythm and symbolic depth. He participated in exhibitions at the Konstakademien in Stockholm, in shows organized by the Swedish Artists’ Association (Svenska konstnärernas förening), and at the Baltic Exhibition in Malmö (1914)—one of the era’s major showcases of Scandinavian art and design. Throughout his career, Collin produced portraits, allegorical figures, and architectural sculpture in plaster, bronze, marble, and terracotta. His works are represented in several Swedish collections, including the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm and the Göteborgs konstmuseum, as well as in regional museums and private collections. About Art Nouveau / Jugend Art Nouveau, known in Sweden and Germany as Jugendstil, was an international artistic movement (c. 1890–1910) that sought to unite the arts under the guiding principle of nature’s harmony. Characterized by flowing lines, floral motifs, and organic rhythms, it aimed to dissolve the boundaries between fine and decorative art, bringing art into everyday life. In sculpture, this often meant a focus on the human body, sensual form, and the beauty of natural curves. Within this aesthetic, Collin’s relief of a woman’s face emerging from a mussel-shaped base carries both mythological and symbolic resonance. The motif recalls the classical image of Venus rising from the sea...

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