The prince of Swedish nature
David Platzer | The New Criterion | 25th February 2025
As the biological sciences flourished in the 19th century, so did popular interest in wildlife. “Animal artists” responded as did newly emergent photography. Liljefors, Sweden’s “prince of animal artists” distinguished his work through exquisite composition. His flying swifts were set against a swathe of wildflowers with detail that photography could not match. But Liljefors, a hunter, was also a realist and his works showed the ‘kill or be killed’ aspect of nature. A “most exhilarating show”.