The First Swim of the Year

Årets første bad (2010)

Mixed media on yellow paper
Sigurd Bergmann

In Årets første bad — The First Swim of the Year — Sigurd Bergmann captures a moment of anticipation, courage, and celebration. Set against a dazzling yellow background, a lone female figure stands at the edge of the sea — sun-warmed, slightly tense, and totally alive. Behind her, the waves churn with movement, painted in thick, expressive strokes of green, blue, and white. A sailboat drifts across the horizon, small but steady.

This piece isn’t about anatomy or realism — it’s about energy. About stepping forward, toward the unknown, into cold water or a new season of life. The figure is raw and assertive, hand on hip, unidealized, and absolutely unapologetic. The contrast between her delicate outlines and the bold sea behind her creates tension, rhythm, and play.

More than a seaside scene, Årets første bad is a portrait of courage — that beautiful, awkward, brave moment before you dive in.