Edwin Ollers 1888-1959

Edvin Ollers: Form and Feeling in Vintage Scandinavian Art

Edvin Ollers is a quintessential figure in early 20th-century Scandinavian art—a painter and designer whose work blurs the boundary between applied craftsmanship and contemplative fine art. He is best known for his still lifes and landscapes, which are rendered in a muted, harmonious palette and are innovative, while also feeling traditional. Though perhaps lesser known internationally than some of his contemporaries, his influence across multiple disciplines—painting, glasswork, ceramics—has secured him a lasting place in the story of vintage art in Sweden and beyond.

Designer and Painter

Born in 1888, Edvin Ollers was part of a generation that viewed art not as a fixed discipline, but as something expansive—capable of shaping everyday life. He studied at the School of Applied Arts in Stockholm and later at the Valand Academy of Fine Arts in Gothenburg, training in both decorative and fine art traditions. From this dual foundation emerged a lifelong interest in functional beauty: the way a form might serve a purpose, but also stir emotion.

While he made his name early on in design—particularly in glass and metalwork—his painting was never merely a sideline; His sense of balance, proportion, and tactile color, which made his glass and ceramics so distinctive, are just as evident in his canvases.

The Painter’s Eye

Ollers' paintings often depict domestic still lifes or subdued rural scenes. Apples in a bowl. A sun-warmed farmhouse. A vase just slightly off-center on a linen-draped table. These are modest observations rendered with care and a touch of lyricism. His brushwork is confident but restrained, and his palette leans toward dusky reds, moss greens, and ochres.

There is often a Cézanne-like feel to his compositions, with subtle geometry and an intuitive balance of color and space. But where Cézanne was analytical, Ollers is gentler, and more atmospheric, I think.

The Glassmaker’s Vision

In 1917, Ollers brought his artistic sensibilities to Kosta Glassworks, one of Sweden’s most renowned producers of decorative glass. Inspired by medieval forms and traditional Scandinavian craftsmanship, he designed a range of objects—bowls, goblets, vases—in soft greens and blues. The designs were simple, almost rustic, but always refined.

His work with glass would continue through collaborations with several other major glassworks including Reijmyre, Åfors, and Elme. Across these roles, he championed a vision of artful utility: objects that were meant to be used, but also appreciated—quiet treasures for the home.

A Vintage Sensibility with Contemporary Relevance

Ollers’ paintings today feel timeless. They’re often described as “vintage,” not only because they belong to a particular time, but because they certainly evoke a feeling of a time gone by. Despite this, they always seem to me to feel rather ‘modern’ and I think they always will!

For collectors seeking vintage art that reflects both refinement and restraint, Ollers' work strikes an ideal balance. His still lifes, in particular, work in both modern and traditional spaces.

The Artist’s Quiet Influence

Though he passed away in 1959, Edvin Ollers left behind a body of work that feels as relevant than ever. His paintings are held in major Scandinavian institutions including the Moderna Museet and Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, and his design work helped shape a generation of functional yet beautiful household objects.

His legacy lies not in flamboyance or fame, but in the quiet integrity of his vision—whether in a hand-blown glass vessel or a sunlit painting of apples on a kitchen table. Ollers reminds us that art doesn’t have to shout to be heard; his paintings always sit rather quietly on the wall.