Lena Cronqvist facts for kids
Lena Cronqvist (born in 1938) is a well-known Swedish artist. She is a painter, a graphic artist (someone who makes art using printing techniques), and a sculptor. Many people see her as one of the most important Expressionist artists in Scandinavia. Expressionism is an art style where artists show their feelings and ideas, not just what things look like. Lena's art often tells stories from her own life. She paints pictures of herself, sometimes with her child. Her work can show different sides of life, including difficult feelings. She has also drawn pictures for books written by her husband, Göran Tunström. She even made special prints called lithographs for a play by August Strindberg. As a sculptor, she creates art from glass and bronze. Her amazing artworks have been shown in many places. You can find them in big museums like the Nationalmuseet and Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
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About Lena Cronqvist's Life and Art
Early Life and Studies
Lena Cronqvist was born in Karlstad, Sweden, on December 31, 1938. She started her art studies in Stockholm. From 1958 to 1959, she attended Konstfack. Then, from 1959 to 1964, she studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. In 1964, she married the writer Göran Tunström. He passed away in the year 2000.
Artistic Inspiration
When Lena was 18, she visited the Munch Room in Oslo, Norway. There, she saw the art of Edvard Munch. His paintings made a strong and lasting impression on her. Some of her own artworks, especially those exploring serious emotions, remind people of Munch's style.
Her Unique Art Style
Lena Cronqvist became famous in Sweden in the mid-1960s. She created not only paintings and graphic art but also textiles and sculptures. Her art uses strong, bright colors. These colors help create her powerful Expressionist style. She brought a very personal way of showing feelings back into Swedish art.
In the 1960s and 1970s, her work often showed scenes from hospitals. She also painted Madonnas and girls playing games that explored serious themes. Many of her pieces were about her own life. They often showed feelings of worry or sickness. She has illustrated books by her late husband, Göran Tunström. She also made a series of lithographs for August Strindberg's play, Ett Drömspel. As a sculptor, she works with materials like glass and bronze. Her art has been shown in many exhibitions. It is also part of the collections at the Nationalmuseet and Moderna Museet in Stockholm.
Awards and Recognition
In 1994, Lena Cronqvist received the Prince Eugen Medal. This is a special award given to artists. She has a strong connection to her hometown of Karlstad. Her bronze sculpture called Hand i hand (Hand in Hand) stands in Museiparken there. In 2012, the city of Karlstad gave her the Fröding Stipendium. This award recognized her important contributions to art.
