Komposition med figurer (Composition with figures) by John Sten is a lush, vibrant depiction of an idyllic, almost Eden-like landscape. The painting, one of two large decorative panels commissioned in 1922 by bank director Rudolf Bothén, was intended to adorn the salon of his Paris apartment, flanking a grand fireplace. In this richly detailed scene, two nude women tenderly bathe a young child in a setting overflowing with abundant greenery, fruits, and animals, including a goat, which adds a pastoral charm. The figures are surrounded by dense foliage and trees, creating an enclosed, almost mythical environment that invites the viewer into a peaceful, secluded world.

Sten’s style here is both decorative and narrative, reflecting his evolution as an artist influenced by both Nordic Romanticism and French modernism. After moving to Paris in 1910, he absorbed elements of geometric stylization and symbolism, blending them into his own vision. In Komposition med figurer, his decorative, tapestry-like approach is evident in the lush layering of natural forms and in the soft, harmonious color palette that ties the figures to the landscape. This work shows Sten at a high point in his career, where his style leaned towards Fauvism, with an emphasis on bold forms and a rhythmic, almost lyrical composition. Sadly, this period of artistic maturity was cut short by his untimely death in Bali later that year, making Komposition med figurer one of his last major accomplishments.