{"product_id":"john-bauer-poor-little-bear-1912-art-poster","title":"John Bauer: Poor Little Bear! (1912) | Art Poster","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eA tender Swedish fairy-tale poster showing a young princess greeting a mother bear in a mossy forest. John Bauer’s 1912 illustration combines childhood curiosity, Nordic nature and the quiet magic that defines his celebrated storybook art.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePrinted locally on heavyweight matte paper. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSwedish fairy-tale illustration by John Bauer\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCreated in 1912 for Helena Nyblom’s \u003cem\u003eThe Journey of Innocence\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA young princess meeting a bear and her cubs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWatercolour, opaque white, ink and pencil\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePrinted on 200 gsm matte quality paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAvailable in four sizes\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eFrame not included\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA gentle meeting in the forest\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eA little princess stands close to a large brown bear and kisses her on the nose. Two cubs wait nearby among the rocks and vegetation. The princess appears completely at ease, and the bear responds with the same quiet curiosity.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBauer surrounds the figures with moss-covered stones, tree trunks and soft forest shadows. The princess’s pale dress and golden crown draw the eye, while the bears’ earthy colours connect them to the surrounding landscape.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eThe story of Princess Bella\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe illustration was created for Helena Nyblom’s fairy tale \u003cem\u003eOskuldens vandring\u003c\/em\u003e, published in the sixth volume of \u003cem\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/em\u003e in 1912. The story follows a four-year-old princess with the shortened name Bella as she explores the deep forests beyond the royal palace.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDuring her journey, Bella enjoys a freedom that contrasts with her carefully controlled life at court. She meets several forest inhabitants, including a mother bear and two cubs. Bella offers the bear freshly picked raspberries, strokes her thick coat and affectionately calls her “poor little bear” before kissing her nose.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cblockquote\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e“Even under freer creative conditions, he seems to have related to nature as a world bordering on fairy tales.”\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cfooter\u003eSource: \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/collection.nationalmuseum.se\/en\/collection\/item\/183701\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"\u003eNationalmuseum: Forest Study, Rydhof, Småland\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/footer\u003e\n\u003c\/blockquote\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eJohn Bauer at the height of his fairy-tale art\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe 1912 and 1913 illustrations are often regarded as a high point in Bauer’s career. During this period, his colours became richer and his treatment of rocks, moss and woodland vegetation grew increasingly detailed.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003ePoor Little Bear!\u003c\/em\u003e was exhibited at Konstnärshuset in Stockholm in 1913 under the descriptive title \u003cem\u003eThe Little Princess and the Bear\u003c\/em\u003e. The original illustration was reproduced as a full-page colour image in the 1912 edition of \u003cem\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/em\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAbout John Bauer\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eJohn Bauer was born in Jönköping in 1882. He became one of Sweden’s most influential illustrators through his work for \u003cem\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/em\u003e, where princesses, trolls and other creatures inhabit forests inspired by the landscape of Småland.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eHis close study of trees, stones and plants gave his imaginary world a convincing natural foundation. Figures often seem to emerge from the forest itself, creating the distinctive meeting of observation and fantasy associated with his art.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eArtwork details\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eArtist\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eJohn Bauer (1882–1918)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSwedish title\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003eStackars lilla basse!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eEnglish title\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cem\u003ePoor Little Bear!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eYear\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e1912\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eTechnique\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWatercolour, opaque white, ink and pencil on paper\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eOriginal dimensions\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e25 × 25 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eStory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eOskuldens vandring\u003c\/em\u003e by Helena Nyblom\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePublication\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\n\u003cem\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/em\u003e, volume 6, 1912\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eExhibition\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eKonstnärshuset, Stockholm, 1913\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eSignature\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMonogrammed JB\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eAvailable sizes\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eCentimetres\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eInches\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e30 × 40 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e12 × 16″\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40 × 50 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e16 × 20″\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50 × 70 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20 × 28″\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e70 × 100 cm\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e28 × 40″\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eA quiet fairy-tale atmosphere for the home\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe warm browns, muted greens and pale central figure give the poster a gentle woodland mood. It works well in a children’s room, bedroom, reading corner or living room and pairs naturally with wood and other Nordic materials.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eExplore more illustrations in our \u003ca href=\"\/en-us\/collections\/john-bauer-1882-1918\"\u003eJohn Bauer collection\u003c\/a\u003e and discover further works in our \u003ca href=\"\/en-us\/collections\/sweden\"\u003eSwedish art collection\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch2\u003eFrequently asked questions\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does Poor Little Bear depict?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe illustration shows the young Princess Bella kissing a mother bear on the nose while two bear cubs wait nearby.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhich story was the illustration created for?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt was created for Helena Nyblom’s fairy tale \u003cem\u003eOskuldens vandring\u003c\/em\u003e, published in \u003cem\u003eBland tomtar och troll\u003c\/em\u003e in 1912.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat does the Swedish word “basse” mean?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn this title, “basse” is an affectionate traditional word for a bear. The title can therefore be translated as \u003cem\u003ePoor Little Bear!\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat technique did John Bauer use?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe original was executed in watercolour, opaque white, ink and pencil on paper.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eWhat paper is the poster printed on?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe poster is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm quality paper with a matte, non-reflective surface.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eIs a frame included?\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eNo. The frame is not included, allowing you to choose one that suits the poster and your interior.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Hygge by Scandinavia","offers":[{"title":"30x40 cm \/ 12x16″","offer_id":56251293303171,"sku":"f5953b3c-3f64-4ee1-a3e1-8f192e087b37","price":25.49,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"40x50 cm \/ 16x20″","offer_id":56251293335939,"sku":"dd79129c-1eae-4fc7-9101-658660e1264a","price":26.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"50x70 cm \/ 20x28″","offer_id":56251293368707,"sku":"03f84a9b-dd9b-4a99-b67e-88b4af975b67","price":35.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"70x100 cm \/ 28x40″","offer_id":56251293401475,"sku":"95180397-3dda-4765-9d88-007a8a0ec5bd","price":44.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0933\/8640\/8323\/files\/535f72a0-dd18-46f5-9a73-10c9a486012a.webp?v=1784205445","url":"https:\/\/hyggebyscandinavia.com\/en-us\/products\/john-bauer-poor-little-bear-1912-art-poster","provider":"Hygge by Scandinavia","version":"1.0","type":"link"}