A Few Words About Art & Poetry

This post is partly a re-visit from 1 June 2016 when I wrote about 

one of our most famous female painters - Helene Schjerfbeck (1862-1946). 

Quite recently I read this stunning book Encounters 

combining her art to the poetry of Edith Södergran (1892-1923).

Encounters is a beautiful poetry and art book in four colors and big size. The dramatic poems of Södergran and the stunning art of Schjerfbeck interact in a touching way. In their lives they had much in common: the fathers died young, they were poor and sick, and neither was much appreciated during her life time. Yet there were some differences. Schjerfbeck was born in Helsinki and lived most of her life in the capital region, only the last few years in Sweden; she lived a long life and passed away at the age of 84. Södergran was born in St. Petersburg and lived and died young at Raivola community (now part of the Soviet Union), only at the age of 31 years.

Edith Södergran’s significance to the Finnish poetry is indisputable. She brought to us modernism and free verses being internationally our most famous poet: her works have been translated into more than 40 languages. Online you can find many sites with Södergran’s poetry in English - here is one and here another.

THE LAND WHICH IS NOT

I long for the land which is not,

for I am tired of desiring all that is.

The moon tells me with writing in silvery clear runes

about the land which is not.

The land where all we wish for wondrously comes into being,

the land where all of our chains fall,

the land where we cool the wounded brows

in the dew of the moon.

My life was a hot illusion.

But one have I found and one thing have I truly won –

the path to the land which is not.

In the land which is not

my beloved walks with a shining crown.

Who is my beloved? The night is dark

and the stars tremble in response.

Who is my beloved? What is his name?

The heavens arch higher and higher,

and a human child drowns in endless fogs

and knows no answer.

But a human child is nothing but certainty.

And it stretches its arms higher than all heavens.

And an answer comes: I am the one you love and always must love.

...

The text on the video is in Swedish because I did not find a good

interpretation in English.

Helene Schjerfbeck is one of the most famous Finnish painters. She started her art studies at the age of 11 and had drawn already years on her own at home. She fell down the stairs at the age of four and her hip injury limited her movements her whole life. She was only 18 when she travelled to France, Italy and England for art studies.

Schjerfbeck was a very original painter with her naturalistic, somewhat masculine and minimalistic style and had her first private exhibition only at the age of 55.  She did not get wider international acknowledgement during her lifetime, but in 2007 her fame exploded owing to exhibitions in Hamburg, Paris and the Hague which gathered over 350 000 visitors. Schjerfbeck painted over 40 self portraits, half of those at the age of over 80. As years went by, the portraits turned to be very plain and reduced.

Convalescent 1888

After 2007 the prices of Schjerfbeck’s paintings went astronomical. 

Her Dancing shoes from 1882 is through times the most expensive Finnish painting 

- sold at the Sotheby’s in 2008:  Estimate 500,000 — 700,000 GBP LOT SOLD 3,044,500 GBP. 

The second place belongs also to Schjerfbeck with a newer version of the same painting.

Art photos from Creative Commons & photographed from this book.

// MOSAIC MONDAY #9

Wishing you an energetic & healthy January!
- riitta