A Life Between London and Stockholm
Richard Beer, known to many as Dick Beer, entered the world in London in 1893. He was the youngest of five brothers, born into a home where art was a daily presence. His father, John Beer, was a watercolourist from Stockholm who found success painting racehorses for the English aristocracy. This early environment, filled with sketches and studio work alongside his brother Edward, shaped his natural inclination toward drawing.
Tragedy arrived early in his life. By the age of fifteen, both of his parents had passed away, leaving him an orphan. He moved to Sweden, finding a home with relatives and later with Reverend Laurell in Västergötland. It was here that his formal training began, starting at the Althin School of Painting in 1908 and moving to the Royal Academy of Arts in 1910. However, the pull of the international art scene was strong. In September 1912, he left his studies behind to find his place in Paris.
The Shadows of War and Change
Paris offered a new landscape for his development. He settled in Montparnasse, renting a studio and enrolling at the Académie Colarossi and Académie Grande Chaumière. His travels took him through Pont-Aven, Italy, Tunis, Morocco, and Spain, gathering colors and light that would later define his canvases. But the peace of his artistic exploration was broken by the outbreak of war in 1914.
Beer volunteered for the French Foreign Legion. During a grenade attack in 1915, he sustained severe head injuries. The physical toll was heavy, leaving him with deafness and a nervous condition that stayed with him for the rest of his life. While convalescing at Château de Rochefort, he returned to his brushes, painting in styles influenced by blue and green hues. This period of recovery was also marked by personal milestones, including his marriage to Ruth Öhrling in 1918 and the birth of his son, John.
Evolution of Style and Vision
His work moved through several distinct phases, reflecting the shifting currents of early twentieth-century art. He began with delicate cityscapes and light palettes inspired by the impressionists. As he matured, he experimented with more structured forms, influenced by the teachings of André Lhote. This led to a period of cubist experimentation, seen in large compositions such as The Arab Café.
In later years, his approach shifted again. He moved toward expressionism, using intense colors and unexpected perspectives, before eventually settling into more naturalistic forms. His subject matter was varied, ranging from:
- Portraits of artists, politicians, and writers
- Nudes and figures in elegant settings
- Landscapes and city buildings
- Still lifes, such as his early work with white napkins and jugs
Despite the challenges of his health, he continued to exhibit in Paris and Sweden. His life came to an end in Stockholm in 1938, following complications from pneumonia, leaving behind a body of work that bridged the gap between the classical traditions of his father and the modern movements of Europe.
