Female Artists - Famous & Forgotten X

The collection being auctioned at Crafoord Auktioner Stockholm includes both celebrated and, not least, forgotten Swedish women artists who worked primarily during the first half of the 20th century. All were independent artists who, during their lifetimes, did not receive the recognition they deserved.
The auction's nearly 200 works by over 100 artists working in a variety of techniques is a journey through art history – from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day. Among the better-known names represented are Siri Derkert, Karin Broos, Linn Fernström, Marie-Louise Ekman, Ilon Wikland, Nell Walden, Thes Ekström and Madeleine Pyk.
There are also more overlooked and rarely encountered artistic practices, among them Maria Wrangel with paintings from Åreskutan and the Abisko tourist station, as well as two interesting lithographs by the American surrealist Elsa Thoresen.
The auction's highlights include, among others, Sonia Delaunay's lithograph "Disques" from 1976. Also presented are five vivid and abstract pastels by Tora Vega Holmström and an equal number of gouaches by the illustrator Gerd Miller. We also present a smaller theme within the theme, with 13 colour lithographs by Mona Huss Walin.
Ester Salmson's painting from 1902, Agnes de Frumerie's sculpture "De spökrädda" and Ester Almqvist's painting from 1907 are further strong highlights of the auction.
A landmark exhibition for women artists was Liljevalchs' "De drogo till Paris" in 1988, which brought Nordic painting from the 1880s to the fore. A total of 250 works were shown, including pieces by Hanna Pauli and Helene Schjerfbeck. What these artists had in common was 1880s Paris, where women could study and live under freer circumstances than in their home countries. The exhibition became the great public success of the 1980s.

In recent years, considerable efforts have also been made to bring significant women artists to wider attention. This work has resulted in Sigrid Hjertén, Vera Nilsson, Siri Derkert and others now being ranked on a par with their male contemporaries of the time. One important project was the Moderna Museet's initiative Det Andra Önskemuseet (The Other Wish Museum), 2006–2009, which aimed to supplement the collection with works by women artists, primarily from the first half of the 20th century. The museum acquired, among other works, Tora Vega Holmström's piece "Främlingar". Major exhibitions have also been devoted to previously neglected artists such as Julia Beck, Eva Bonnier and Hilma af Klint.
Piece by piece, the history of art is being set right. Talents who, due to the norms of their time, were left in the shadows are now seeing the light of day. There is still much to be done and more to discover – and we hope that this themed auction will play its part.