“What joy to be a sculptor!”

The turn of the 20th century saw the emergence of the women’s movement and the fight for equal rights, and women were starting to make their presence felt in various areas of society. Traditionally, the heavy and dirty work of a sculptor was seen as a male occupation. Sculptures of nude bodies were considered unsuitable for ladies. Nevertheless, a relatively large number of women trained as sculptors in Sweden in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The female sculptors were adept at finding new and collaborative approaches, especially when it came to applied art aimed at a wider market. Several of them enjoyed great success at exhibitions and remained in Paris for most of their life.

Their oeuvre was extensive, encompassing all genres. Often reproduced in various sizes and materials, their sculptures became very popular. But they also came in for criticism and achieved only limited exposure in museums and public spaces. As a result, many of them were forgotten for much of the 20th century.

This exhibition is the result of a multi-year project involving leading Nordic art museums and independent researchers from across northern Europe.

More info: https://www.nationalmuseum.se/en/utst%C3%A4llningar/kommande-utst%C3%A4llningar/h%C3%A4rligt-att-vara-skulpt%C3%B6r

Picture: Ida Matton, portrait study, possibly of Matilda Hanström Berendt, 1891 terracotta