Bengtssontavelsamlare Dick Bengtsson

The composition presents a domestic interior rendered in a deliberately flattened and stylized manner. A woman stands centrally positioned, her posture suggesting a contemplative or perhaps melancholic state. She is dressed in a dark blue dress with visible straps, the fabric appearing somewhat stiff and formal. Her gaze is directed downwards, away from an object – a gramophone – placed on a small table to her left. The hand closest to the gramophone is raised towards her face in a gesture that could be interpreted as either shielding herself or expressing discomfort.
Behind the woman, a wall is dominated by seven framed pictures. Each frame contains what appears to be a stylized depiction of crossed sticks or branches, creating a repetitive visual pattern. These images are arranged in an asymmetrical grid, disrupting any sense of conventional balance and contributing to the overall feeling of unease. The background color of the wall is a vibrant turquoise blue, which contrasts sharply with the darker tones of the woman’s dress and the surrounding furniture.
Below the framed pictures sits a large fireplace, within which a stylized fire burns. The flames are rendered in thick, impasto strokes of red and orange, providing a focal point that draws the eye downwards. A small table stands before the fireplace, its surface reflecting the warm light emanating from the hearth.
The floor is depicted with broad brushstrokes of green and red, creating an abstract pattern that further diminishes any sense of realistic space. The color palette is generally muted, but punctuated by the intense blues and reds which contribute to a heightened emotional atmosphere.
Subtextually, the painting seems to explore themes of isolation and alienation within a seemingly comfortable domestic setting. The woman’s detached posture and averted gaze suggest a disconnect from her surroundings. The repetitive imagery of the framed pictures could symbolize routine or confinement, while the gramophone – a symbol of recorded music and potentially nostalgia – appears almost ignored by its owner. The fire in the hearth offers a sense of warmth but also feels distant, failing to alleviate the overall feeling of emotional distance. The deliberate flattening of perspective and stylized rendering contribute to an atmosphere that is both unsettling and strangely dreamlike.