Between Xmas & New Year 1895 Carl Larsson (1853-1919)

The composition presents a domestic interior, suffused with a muted, melancholic light. A woman stands centrally within the frame, her posture suggesting a quiet contemplation or perhaps a gentle sadness. She cradles a baby in her arms, their faces close together, creating an intimate and tender focal point. The child’s gaze is directed outward, beyond the viewers perspective, adding to the sense of introspection that permeates the scene.
The room itself is meticulously rendered, displaying a degree of order and refinement. A tall cabinet filled with china occupies the left side of the space, its contents neatly arranged. Across from it stands an ornate sideboard, decorated with floral motifs and holding various objects – bottles, candles, decorative plates – suggesting a comfortable domesticity. Above the door, a painted inscription is visible, adding a layer of personalized detail to the setting. A framed portrait hangs above the door as well, its subject obscured but hinting at familial connections or cherished memories.
The color palette is restrained, dominated by earthy tones and soft greys, contributing to the overall atmosphere of quietude. The floorboards are rendered with careful attention to their texture and grain, grounding the scene in a tangible reality.
Subtleties within the painting suggest deeper meanings beyond a simple depiction of motherhood. The woman’s expression is ambiguous; its difficult to discern whether she feels joy or sorrow. This ambiguity invites speculation about her emotional state and the circumstances surrounding her life. The inscription above the door, Gods Fred, introduces a religious element, potentially hinting at hope or faith in the face of adversity.
The composition’s stillness and lack of overt action create a sense of suspended time – a moment captured between events, perhaps reflecting the transitional period implied by the title. It is not a scene of boisterous celebration but one of quiet reflection, suggesting themes of family, memory, and the passage of time within a carefully constructed domestic sphere. The overall effect is one of poignant beauty tinged with an underlying sense of melancholy.