Jenny Nyström: Julklockan (1924) | Christmas Poster

A vintage Swedish Christmas poster filled with snow, horses and people travelling past a warmly lit country church. Jenny Nyström’s 1924 cover illustration for Julklockan captures the excitement of a winter journey beneath a deep blue evening sky.

Printed locally on heavyweight matte paper. Typical delivery time: 2–5 business days.

• Swedish Christmas illustration by Jenny Nyström
• Created as a magazine cover in 1924
• Horse-drawn sleighs and a snow-covered church
• Rich blue winter tones with warm window light
• Printed on 200 gsm matte quality paper
• Available in four sizes
• Frame not included

A winter journey past the church

A chestnut horse moves briskly through the snow, pulling a sleigh with a family wrapped in heavy winter clothing. Bells decorate the harness, while a second sleigh follows farther up the road.

People walk beside the track, and several figures approach the church in the background. Their small forms give the scene a sense of activity, as though the entire community is making its way through the cold evening.

Warm light in a blue landscape

Nyström builds the scene around the contrast between the dark blue sky, pale snow and amber light glowing from the church windows. Snow-laden trees rise along the road, framing the moving sleighs and directing the eye toward the church.

The foreground horse provides energy and scale. Its raised leg, flowing mane and sharply drawn harness create movement, while the quieter figures and distant buildings add depth to the winter landscape.

A cover for Julklockan

The illustration was created for the 1924 edition of the Swedish periodical Julklockan. Its title appears in large green letters beneath the image, making the typography part of the original composition.

The signed artwork combines watercolour, gouache, opaque white, Indian ink and pencil. This mixture allowed Nyström to create crisp figures, transparent areas of colour and bright highlights across the snow.

“Sweden’s most productive painter and illustrator.”

About Jenny Nyström

Jenny Eugenia Nyström was born in Kalmar in 1854. She studied in Gothenburg, at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm and later in Paris. Her early career included portraits, history painting and illustrations for books.

She became closely associated with Swedish Christmas culture through her magazine covers, greetings cards and illustrations of children, winter journeys and the Swedish jultomte. Her images helped shape the visual character of a traditional Scandinavian Christmas.

Artwork details

Available sizes

Scandinavian Christmas atmosphere

The clear blues, white snow and warm church windows make this poster a distinctive addition to seasonal interiors. It works well in a living room, hallway or dining area, especially with natural wood, candles and traditional Christmas decorations.

Explore more festive motifs in our Swedish art collection, or pair it with Jenny Nyström’s vintage Yule gnome poster.

Frequently asked questions

What does Julklockan depict?

The illustration shows families travelling through a snowy landscape in horse-drawn sleighs, with a warmly lit church in the background.

Was Julklockan originally a painting?

It was created as a cover illustration for the 1924 edition of the Swedish periodical Julklockan.

Which materials did Jenny Nyström use?

The original combines watercolour, gouache, opaque white, Indian ink and pencil.

How large is the original artwork?

The signed original measures 38.5 × 27.5 cm.

What paper is the poster printed on?

The poster is printed on heavyweight 200 gsm quality paper with a matte, non-reflective surface.

Is a frame included?

No. The frame is not included, allowing you to choose one that suits the poster and your interior.