Gerhard Alexander Denis (Gerhard) Karlmark (Helsingborg, August 22, 1905 – May 21, 1976) was a versatile Swedish painter.

His paintings include still lifes, portraits, nudes, harbor motifs and landscapes in oil, watercolor and pastel. In addition to painting, he also sculpted, drew, illustrated and wrote and sang songs.

He developed much of his style and motifs during his many Southern European study trips. During his career he was most active in his native Skåne region. Because of the associations his work evoked with that of Pablo Picasso, he was also called the Picasso of Skåne.

His work can be seen in, among others, the Art Museum of Malmö and the Art Museum of Ystad.

LIFE: 

LifeKarlmark was born on August 22, 1905 in Helsingborg and was the eldest child of Bernhard (? – 1955) and Gerda Karlmark. After him followed two more children, Greta and Hans (Hasse).

Karlmark's talent was probably manifested at a very young age. He was also the only one of the children with academic talent. At a young age, however, he was stricken with polio. Vaccinations or medicines against this did not exist at that time. This led to his father becoming proficient in homeopathy.

Karlmark studied at the Royal Academy of Art in Stockholm. He became a valued portrait painter.

His home or studio, located in Lundavägen in Malmö, near Värnhemstorget, was built during the war years. Karlmark married Ebba Nilsson and their daughter Eva was born in 1957.

His style has since evolved in directions inspired by travel in Southern Europe. While he was already making etchings in his younger years, he then started with lithographs.

Karlmark died on May 21, 1976. He is buried in Bonderup, Sweden, near Dalby.