Jenny Nyström facts for kids
Jenny Eugenia Nyström (born June 13 or 15, 1854, in Kalmar, Sweden; died January 17, 1946, in Stockholm) was a talented painter and illustrator. She is most famous for creating the Swedish image of the jultomte. This is the Swedish version of Santa Claus. Jenny Nyström drew the jultomte on many Christmas cards and magazine covers. Her art helped connect the Swedish Santa Claus to the gnomes and tomtar from old Scandinavian stories.
Quick facts for kids
Jenny Nyström
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1901 portrait of Jenny Nyström
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| Born | 13 June 1854  Kalmar |
| Died | 17 January 1946 (aged 91) Bromma parish |
| Resting place | Norra begravningsplatsen |
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| Occupation | Painter, illustrator |
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jenny Nyström's father was a school teacher. He also taught piano and was a church cantor. When Jenny was eight, her family moved to Gothenburg. Her father found a better teaching job there.
She attended the Kjellbergska flickskolan school. In 1865, she began studying art at the Gothenburg art school. Today, this school is known as Konsthögskolan Valand. In 1873, she was accepted into the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts in Stockholm. She studied there for eight years. Thanks to a scholarship, she then studied in Paris from 1882 to 1886. She attended Académie Colarossi and Académie Julian.
Career as an Artist
While in Paris, Jenny Nyström saw how popular postcards were becoming. She tried to convince the Swedish publishing company Bonnier to start making postcards. However, they said no.
A story called Lille Viggs äventyr på julafton (Little Vigg's Adventures on Christmas Eve) inspired Jenny Nyström. It was written by Viktor Rydberg. She created drawings to go with this tale. Viktor Rydberg saw her drawings and suggested that Bonniers publish the book. When they declined, another publisher, S. A. Hedlund, released it in 1871. This short Christmas story became very popular in Sweden. It is now a Christmas classic.
Jenny Nyström eventually became Sweden's most active painter and illustrator. For many years, her drawings were sold by Strålin & Persson AB in Falun.
In 1887, when she was 33, she married Daniel Stoopendaal. He was a medical student. Daniel was the brother of other artists like Henrik, Ferdinand, and Georg Stoopendaal. Daniel could not finish his studies because he became ill with tuberculosis. So, Jenny had to support herself, her husband, and their son through her art. Daniel managed her business matters. He passed away in 1927.
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Her son, Curt Nyström Stoopendahl (1893-1965), also became a popular artist. He drew postcards and posters. His style was very similar to his mother's. Even his signature, “Curt Nyström,” looked like hers. Her brother-in-law, Georg Stoopendaal, also found that drawing postcards was a good way to earn money. His Christmas cards were also clearly inspired by Jenny Nyström's work.
Santa Claus and Christmas Art
Jenny Nyström is famous for creating the Swedish image of the jultomte. She drew him on many Christmas cards and magazine covers. Her art helped connect the Swedish version of Santa Claus to the gnomes from old Scandinavian stories.
Selected Illustrations
Jenny Nyström illustrated many books. Here are a few examples:
- Fornnordiska sagor (Early Norse Tales), written by Albert Ulrik Bååth (1886).
- Den poetiska Eddan (The Poetic Edda), written by Nils Frederick Sander (1893).
- Barnkammarens Bok (The Nursery Book) (Stockholm: Fahlcrantz & Co. 1903).
See also
In Spanish: Jenny Nyström para niños
