Carl Larsson (1853-1919) was a Swedish painter and illustrator who is best known for his watercolors of idyllic family life. He was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on 28 May 1853. His father was a government official and his mother was a seamstress.
Larsson began his artistic career as an apprentice to a decorative painter at the age of thirteen. He later studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm, where he developed an interest in watercolor painting. After graduating from the Academy in 1874, he traveled to France and Italy to further his studies.
In 1883, Larsson married Karin Bergöö, with whom he had eight children. This marriage inspired many of his works which depicted scenes of domestic life with his wife and children. His works often featured bright colors and cheerful scenes that celebrated the joys of family life.
In addition to painting, Larsson also worked as an illustrator for magazines and books such as Astrid Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking series. He also illustrated several books by Selma Lagerlöf, including The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (1906).
Larsson's work has been widely exhibited throughout Europe and North America since the early 1900s. In 2009, a major retrospective exhibition of his work was held at the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm. Today, Larsson's works are highly sought after by collectors around the world.