Bukowskis auction house made headlines on Thursday when John Bauer's painting 'Sagoflickan' (Fairy Girl) sold for a record-breaking 8.75 million SEK, including fees. Interestingly, the auction saw only one bidder, which resulted in the final price matching the painting's starting valuation of 7 million SEK.
Andreas Rydén, Bukowskis' chief specialist and vice president, commented, 'We congratulate the seller on a record price and the buyer on a fantastic painting.'
Created in 1912 at the height of his career, Bauer (1882-1918) is best known for his fairy tale illustrations in the anthology 'Bland tomtar och troll.' The inspiration for the girl depicted in the painting, with her long, light hair seated on mossy stones, is believed to be his wife, Ester.
The oil painting was previously exhibited at the Konstnärshuset in 1913 and the 1915 World’s Fair in San Francisco. In 1918, it was sold for 4,500 SEK to banker Oscar Rydbeck. Since then, it has changed hands twice.
In 1987, it fetched 1.8 million SEK at Bukowskis, and in 1994, the current owner, an art-collecting family, acquired it for 900,000 SEK (excluding fees) at Nordén Auktioner.
Bauer’s status as one of Sweden's most sought-after artists is partly due to his limited output. He tragically passed away at 36, along with his wife and son, when a steamboat sank in Lake Vättern in 1918.