Promotional Information

Published to accompany a major retrospective at the Royal Academy, running from 20 July to 27 October 2019, the first time her works have been seen in London since 1890

About the Author

Anna-Maria von Bonsdorff is chief curator at the Ateneum Art Museum / Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. Rebecca Bray is Assistant Curator at the Royal Academy of Arts, London. Desiree de Chair is an art historian and curator. Jeremy Lewison is an art historian and curator. He was formerly Director of Collections at Tate.

Reviews

an utterly riveting view of the Finnish Munch... you are in for the most wonderfully striking surpise.--Rachel Campbell-Johnston "New York Times"

[Helene Schjerfbeck] reworked her paintings with brushes, palette knives and even sandpaper to get her distinctive look, which involves amazingly subtle shifts of tone and a superb line that pins things down, hemming in floating colours and shapes, fine as dressmaker's chalk.--Laura Cumming "Guardian"

[T]here's a 'modern' aspect to many of Schjerfbeck's images. Right from the off, the women in her portraits look alive, real and healthy.... This is what makes Schjerfbeck fascinating. Instead of tapering off into rehearsed formulas, her art gets better as it heads from start to finish.--Rosemary Waugh "Time Out"

Her paintings of her mother, which irresistibly recall Whistler are wonderful: affectionate without being sentimental and with a daughter's eye to detail.... This is an overdue tribute to a very considerable artist.--Melanie McDonagh "Evening Standard"

Impressively informative, beautifully illustrated, exceptionally organized and presented, "Helene Schjerfbeck" showcases the life and career of an extraordinary artist...--James Cox "Midwest Book Review"