Dancing Fairies

Why it's great

Fairies dance in a circle on a misty meadow, in the pale light of a summer night, according to Swedish folk tales. Malmström painted the scene in a soft, glowing way. It's a magical picture. It's one of the most beloved Swedish paintings.

👀 Look closer!

The fairies dance in a circle. Can you count them?

Where to see it

📍 NationalmuseumStockholm, Sweden

Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →

Hang it on your wall

⬇ Hi-res download 3,510 × 2,105 px · 7.4 megapixels · prints up to about 12 × 7 inches at 300 dpi File page & license ↗

Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:

💵 Budget Etsy ↗ Posters and simple prints from small sellers, usually the lowest prices. 🖼️ Mid-range Fine Art America ↗ Good printing on paper, canvas or metal, made to order, with framing options. 🏛️ High-end Meisterdrucke ↗ Museum-grade giclée prints on archival paper or canvas, the closest to the real thing.

These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.

About the artist

August Malmström

1829–1901 · born in Västra Ny församling · died in Jakob and Johannes parish

August Malmström was born in Sweden and became a painter of Nordic legends, fairy tales and landscapes. He studied in Stockholm and Düsseldorf. He later directed the Swedish National Museum's art school. He died in Stockholm in 1901.