A Blue Hyacinth in Paris. Self portrait.

Gerda Roosval-Kallstenius was a Swedish painter who specialized in landscapes and scenes with figures. Here we present an unusually sensual and intimate depiction of the artist smelling a hyacinth. She holds the flower close to her chest in both hands and closes her eyes to fully focus on its fine smell. This self-portrait was created while Roosval-Kallstenius was living in Paris with her husband Gottfrid Kallstenius, who was also a painter. In her sketchbook from Paris, she noted: "Art - a species of free (=self-determining) human activity, which aims to reproduce or preserve a sensation perceived as 'beautiful'." It seems that in her self-portrait she has tried to preserve both the beauty of the hyacinth and its delightful fragrance.

This painting is perfect to think of the past Summer! Where did it go so quickly?  :)

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P.S. Did you know that flowers have a special meaning in art history? Learn about hidden messages in flora. <3