2421/​152

Jenny Nyström (b. Kalmar 1854, d. Stockholm 1946)

A Parisian woman holding a tambourine. Signed and dated Jenny Nyström Paris 1883. Watercolour and goauche on paper. Visible size 39.5×27 cm.

The Swedish Jenny Nyström studied as a young woman at Gothenburg's Musei-, Rit- och Målarskola, and in 1873 she was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, where she was a student until 1881. In 1881, she was the first female artist to be awarded the Royal Medal for her painting “Kung Hans och den unge Gustaf Vasa” (King Hans and the young Gustav Vasa), which gave her the opportunity to continue her education in Paris, which she did in the years 1882–1886 at the Académie Colarossi and Académie Julian. In 1884 she exhibited at the Salon in Paris.

Jenny Nyström painted both genre pictures, landscapes, still lifes and portraits, and she carried out many watercolors during her stay in Paris. But she also became one of Sweden's most prolific illustrators, and she is especially known and loved for her countless illustrations for children's books, magazines and postcards. She had her big breakthrough with illustrations for the book Little Vigg's Adventure on Christmas Eve by Viktor Rydberg (1828–1895) in 1875. Through her many Christmas illustrations, e.g. for Viktor Rydberg's poem 'Tomten' in 1881, she was the one who created the Swedish image of Santa Claus - a small, friendly figure with a white beard and red hat - and she is thus considered today as the mother of the 'jultomte'.

Condition

In good condition. Examined in frame.

Additional Remarks

Please note: The item is subject to the Anti-Money Laundering Act. In the event of a hammer price of DKK 50,000 or more, including buyer’s premium, the buyer must submit a copy of a valid photo ID and proof of address in order to collect the item.

Auction

Paintings, furniture and varia, 20 May 2024

Category
Estimate

10,000–15,000 DKK

Price realised

Not sold