Carl Eldh

Carl Johan Eldh got his first training as a miller and then from a local carpenter, before going to Uppsala and subsequently to Stockholm, where he studied at the Technical School. From 1897-1904, he studied in Paris, where he was mainly influenced by the famous sculptor Auguste Rodin. In 1921, Eldh’s wife and daughter moved to California, to prepare his pending arrival there, but he never went. Eldh frequently collaborated with renowned architects, which significantly increased his visibility. He created, among other works, the trilogy “Author - Poet - Painter” in the Stockholm City Hall Park, and the Strindberg and Branting Monuments also in Stockholm. Eldh produced portrait busts of many contemporary celebrities like King Oscar II and many artists and writers including August Strindberg. His own studio house was built in 1918. Eldh was among the most popular sculptors in the first half of the 20th century in Sweden.

The Dance (Dansen) was the female of two bronze figures that were commissioned by Stockholm art lovers in 1928. The male counterpart was The Singing (Sången). Both still adorn the stairs of the Stadshuskajen in Stockholm. In the meantime there were also numerous small statuettes of The Dance produced. The Seated Girl (Sittande Flicka) is less clearly identifiable. There are several different figures that appear under this title. Some are also titled Sitting Woman. The most famous of them is dated 1904 and about 25 cm high.