Symbolism and decadence, exhibition at Prince Eugen´s Waldemarsudde

Väinö Blomstedt
Francesca, 1897  (beskuren)


The current exhibition at Prince Eugen´s Waldemarsudde is called 
Symbolism and decadence. The exhibition consists of
over 200 pieces of art; paintings, sculpture, drawings and crafts from public and private collections by well known artists, among others prince Eugene, Richard Bergh, August Strindberg, Hanna Pauli, Paul Gauguin, Eugène Carrier, Edvard Much, Akseli Gallen-Kallela. 
I went wild with my camera to such an extent that the museum guard had to rebuke me twice for being inside the cordons when leaning over to come close enough to get satisfactory image quality.

By the way, symbolism I understand, but why
decadence?? I didn´t see anything that I considered decadent at the exhibition. So I looked up the word decadence in an English dictionary and it had 26 synonyms! Corruption, decay, degeneration, dissolution, downfall, regression and lasciviousness...Well, I get it. It´s
not sex, drugs and rock´n´roll decadence. It´s about death. Decay.



Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Guardian angels (Ravens), 1888



Vilhelms Purvitis
Winter, about 1908



Oskar Bergman
Offerlunden (sacrificial grove) II 1905



Tyra Kleen
Copy of a painting by Puvis de Chavannes , 1897 Le Pauvre pécheur, 1881




Beda Stjernschantz
Överallt en röst oss bjuder...1895



Ivar Arosenius
Self-portrait with bleeding heart, 1902



Agnes de Frumerie
Immaculata, 1897



John Bauer
The harp player, 1903



Janis Rozentals
Döden (the death), 1897

Hanna Pauli
The Princess, 1896



Johan Valters
Birch grove, 1903

Gustaf Fjaestad

The riddle of life, 1919

Here are some symbolic and decadent art that I made in the 80´s and 90´s.

Erica Hedberg

Hope deferred maketh the heart sick, but when the desire cometh it is a tree of life

(Proverbs 13:12)

Pencil on paper, 1989

Erica Hedberg

Without title, 1989

Erica Hedberg

Without title, 1991 (detail)

Erica Karlsson

After the moonlight party, we went to bed, my shadow and me, 1993

Erica Hedberg

Discover America, work as an au-pair, 1981

Erica Hedberg

Decadent Christmas Cat, 1982 (detail)