“Love one another, children.
“Because love is everything.”
---p.13

“The house I decorated with Karin, the memories of my family, the paintings that contain all of this are the greatest works of my life.”
---p.20

“Love is telling each other that you are important to each other.”
---p.109

In 1884, a year after Karl and Karin married, the Larsson family had their first child.
They returned to their homeland, Sweden, in 1885, but various circumstances forced them to travel back and forth between Paris and Italy.
Carl leaves this record of the birth of his precious daughter, Susan, who was born at this time.
“On August 11th, Karin gave birth to a daughter.
I am the happiest man in the world.
“I was so happy I did a somersault.”
---p.118

Born as the second child of Karl and Karin, Wolf was a mischievous child.
But Wolf's life was too short.
This strong and sturdy child died of appendicitis in April 1905.
In life, time is not guaranteed to anyone.
Carl writes a diary as he mourns the loss of his son, Wolf, who took his own life at the age of 18.

“My strong, sturdy son, Wolf, died a young hero on the operating table because the surgery was done too late.
My heart stopped beating as I felt my son's noble heart.
Karin and I held the body of our eldest son, Wolf, and cried for a long time.”
---p.131

“You were a flower.
I will always remember you as strong and courageous as you were throughout your life.”
---p.132

Children's hearts are full of treasures.
---p.146

Carl Larsson painted many scenes of children reading books.
This is because both of his parents, Karl and Karin, loved reading.
Karl always had many books by his bedside and dreamed of becoming a bibliophile, and Karin also learned the habit of reading from her mother, Hilda, from a young age.
When I look at the children he drew reading, I find myself looking for books around me.
---p.149

Of all the children drawn by Karl, I like the one with Britta as the main character the most.
Britta is often seen with cats in Carl's paintings.
In [Brita and the Cat Eating a Sandwich], Britta is eating a sandwich while looking at a knife in the garden.
In front of Britta is a black tabby cat, and thanks to Britta's gentle expression, the cat's appearance also exudes peace.
The pure laughter of a child touches the hearts of those who watch it.
---p.136

“What plants and children have in common is that they are always fresh.”
---p.164

“Everyone has a peaceful space somewhere inside them.”
---p.194

This piece, where Capo is lying down, is called [A Cozy Corner] or [A Corner for the Lazy].
Every home has a favorite spot to go when they're tired or feeling lazy.
Northern European interiors, in particular, emphasize spaces like nooks where you can laze around or "reading nooks" where you can read.
---p.219

“If you have light in your heart, you will always find your way home.”
---p.256

“A truly old person is forever young.”
---p.284

Carl Larsson's paintings show us that an ordinary day and an extraordinary day can be the same.
The reason their daily lives feel special is probably because they make the ordinary special.
When the whole family comes together to accomplish something, even something small, it feels huge.
Imagine catching crayfish all day, playing in the water, then coming home, washing up in warm water, and having an evening with the whole family, all gathered around, eating crayfish and chatting happily.
As the old sage said, "There is no quarrel before water," the water, which always flows to the lowest point and heads towards the vast sea, seems to have silently provided this family with constant happiness and peace.
---p.298

“Ah, love! Love! This is the mystery of life.”

---p.449