Gösta von Hennigs

Swedish painter Gösta von Hennigs originally wanted to pursue a military career but was not accepted because of his shortsightedness. He then worked as a clerk in an architect’s office before he attended the painting school of the Konstnärsförbundet in Stockholm. He later became a member, and was eventually named Professor of Art and Director, of the Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm. Von Hennigs was particularly interested in representing dynamics and movement. His motifs mostly were derived from the world of the circus, racetracks and cabaret. Through different phases, his works were influenced by Impressionism, Art Nouveau and Expressionism. His preferred techniques were oil paintings, watercolors, and gouaches.

Von Hennigs received an Honorable Mention for his work Acrobat Girl at the 1932 Los Angeles Art Competitions in the category Painting, Drawings and Water Colors. Akrobatflicka (Acrobat Girl), a watercolor in the format 46 x 33.5 cm, is dated 1933, however. Already in 1925, he painted Akrobatflicka på trapets (Acrobat Girl on Trapeze), also a watercolor. Another watercolor titled Kapplöpning (Steeplechase, 32 x 43 cm) is dated 1922. Von Hennigs, however, painted several pictures with similar motifs before and after.