Portrait of Gerda Bergh, The Artist’s Second Wife (1900)

Sven Richard Bergh (1858–1919) was a prominent Swedish painter, art critic, and museum director. He played a vital part in Sweden’s artistic landscape during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, making significant contributions both through his artwork and his leadership in the cultural sphere.

Despite spending many years in France, Bergh did not gravitate toward the Impressionist movement that fascinated numerous artists of his time. Instead, he drew his inspiration from Naturalism and held particular admiration for the works of Jules Bastien-Lepage. This influence is evident in the realistic style and thematics present in much of his art.

Bergh, unlike many of his peers, did not embrace painting landscapes en plein air, or outdoors. He preferred to create deliberately composed works, most often in his studio, rather than drawing direct inspiration from nature on location. This approach was consistent with his Naturalist convictions and distinguished him from other artists of his generation.

Apart from his work as a painter, Bergh also contributed as an art critic and a museum director, shaping the course of Swedish cultural life. His guidance and artistic direction made a lasting impression on Swedish art, establishing his legacy as a key figure in the nation’s artistic history.