Näckrosen, Bronze sculpture in Stockholm, Sweden

Näckrosen is a bronze sculpture depicting a young woman resting on a water lily leaf. The work exists in multiple versions in bronze and marble, with casts displayed across Swedish museums and public spaces.

Swedish sculptor Per Hasselberg created the work in 1892, first showing a plaster version in Copenhagen before presenting it at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago. The piece emerged during a period when Scandinavian artists sought international recognition for their creations.

The work draws from Swedish folklore and shows a woman floating on a water lily leaf, surrounded by symbolic references to Nordic mythology and water spirits.

The sculpture is accessible year-round as multiple casts are distributed across different locations. Visitors should check specific museum or public space information to locate the version they wish to see, as instances are spread throughout the region.

On the back of the sculpture a tree stump holds a chain with a large padlock, hinting that the great water lily leaf was once fastened with the chain. The water also shows bearded heads representing water spirits such as Näcken. The model was Signe Larsson, born 16 February 1877, with whom Hasselberg had a daughter, Julia, in 1893.