Otto Gustaf Carlsund was a Swedish painter and graphic artist who played a key role in the development of Cubism, Futurism, and Purism in Sweden. After studying in Stockholm, he moved to Paris in 1924. In the capital, he trained under Ferdinand Léger and Amédée Ozenfant at the Académie Moderne. Considered Fernand Léger’s favorite student, he was admired for his remarkable skill and sensitivity. His artwork, deeply influenced by both Cubism and Fauvism, combined geometric shapes and vibrant compositions. Carlsund returned to Sweden in the mid-1920s and joined the Swedish avant-garde scene. Despite his success,he struggled with mental health issues and died at the age of 51, likely by suicide. His work is still recognised for its innovative forms within Swedish Modernism.
Our Mask is one of Carlsund’s renowned “thousand-line” pieces. Considered among his most challengingworks, it showcases his extraordinary technical mastery: through thousands of tiny strokes, Carlsund conjures shape, depth, light, and shadow in a manner that feels almost illusory. Aligned with the style of Surrealism,which began to captivate the artist in the early 1930s, these intricate drawings are believed to have served as a form of therapy during sleepless nights. This period followed the 1930 Stockholm Exhibitionʼs scandal: Piet Mondrian and Theo van Doesburg, amongst others, accused Carlsund of attempting to defraud them of artworks and money in his role as curator. This precise and complex drawing exemplifies Carlsund’s unique approach to Surrealism while offering a remarkable demonstration of his prowess as a draughtsman.