Helene Schjerfbeck

Artist

Helene Schjerfbeck

Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946) was a Finnish painter and one of the most important artists in Finland. Born in Helsinki, she received her artistic education from an early age and rapidly developed her skills as a painter. She soon gained a reputation for her realistic portraits of women and children, characterized by intimacy and melancholy .

Helen Schjerfbeck Biography

• Born July 10, 1862 in Helsinki, Finland
• At the age of 11, he broke his hip in an accident and suffered lifelong injuries.
• Studied at the Finnish Art Society's art school in the late 1870s
• In the 1880s, he studied in Paris and was influenced by the Impressionists.
• In the 1890s he returned to Finland and produced portraits and still lifes.
• Since the 1900s, he has established his own unique expressionist style.
• Died January 23, 1946 in Salzjobaden, Sweden (aged 83)

Representative works

• The Convalescent (1888)
• "Self-Portrait" (1945)
• Girl in a Black Dress (1917)

Schjerfbeck's style and achievements

Schjerfbeck's early works focused on realistic portraits, but she later incorporated elements of expressionism and established her own unique style. Her works are characterized by simple, subdued colors and a deep look into the inner lives of her subjects.

Her representative work, "Wounded Girl," reflects her own experiences as a child, and the painful yet beautiful figure of the girl leaves a deep impression on viewers. Her later self-portraits also express her passion for art and her lonely soul, which have not diminished even in old age .

Although Schjälfbeck was not particularly well-received during her lifetime, her work was reevaluated after her death and she became recognized as one of Finland's leading painters. Her work continues to inspire us today with its profound humanity and unique expressiveness .