Tove Jansson enjoyed an impressive career as a writer and artist. She was active for more than 70 years and also worked as a comic strip artist, illustrator, set designer, costume designer and caricaturist – yet she always considered herself first and foremost a painter. Tove is best known for creating the Moomin characters, but her creativity extended far beyond this universe. She constantly experimented and sought new forms of artistic expression.

In 1933, Tove began her studies at the Finnish Art Society’s Drawing School in Helsinki, commonly known as the Ateneum. She remained there until the spring of 1937, although she repeatedly interrupted her studies. Nevertheless, after four years she had established herself as an artist. During this period, the Finnish art scene was undergoing significant changes, with an outward-looking focus on European modernism and the organisation of international exhibitions. Tove also travelled abroad, drawing inspiration from the culture of Germany and, above all, Paris and Brittany, followed later by Italy.

Both of Tove’s parents were artistically inclined: her mother, Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, was a draughtswoman and illustrator, while her father, Viktor Jansson, was a sculptor. From the outset, Tove stood out as a rare bird, fearlessly following her own path. Before and during the Second World War, she contributed critical satire to the political magazine Garm and courageously protested against Finland’s collaboration with Nazi Germany. Tove’s private life was equally unconventional. Women’s status, independence, creativity and equality were particularly important to her, and she challenged established ways of thinking and prejudice – not as a loud agitator, but as a quiet revolutionary whose entire way of life reflected her convictions.

The colourful and expressive still life offered at auction was painted in 1960. Another fine still life from the same year, entitled Snäckskalsstilleben, is held in the collection of Tampere Art Museum.