Vera Frisén is today rightfully recognized as a key figure in modern Swedish art history. She holds a unique place among the painters who devoted their lives to capturing the light and landscape of Västerbotten. But her journey was far from straightforward.
In the midst of her studies at Otte Sköld’s painting school, she was diagnosed with tuberculosis and admitted to the Sävsjö Sanatorium. Though she eventually returned to her studies, she continued to struggle with health issues throughout the 1930s. After periods spent in Denmark and France, she settled in Umeå during the latter half of the decade.
Now, as Norrlands Auktionsverk shines a spotlight on a distinctly Swedish modernist artist, it is landscape painter Vera Frisén who takes center stage. While she also created numerous portraits during her career, it is her rich depictions of the trees, waters, and skies of Västerbotten that have secured her a place among the greats of Swedish landscape painting.
