Tove Jansson
Tove Jansson was a Finnish-Swedish artist and author, best known for her beloved Moomin series, which includes thirteen books that capture the adventures of whimsical trolls living in a fantastical world. Born on August 9, 1914, in Helsinki, Jansson was raised in a creatively stimulating environment by her sculptor father and book designer mother. Her artistic journey began with studies in book design and painting in Stockholm and Helsinki, followed by further training in Paris and Florence. In addition to her children's literature, Jansson was a skilled painter and muralist, actively exhibiting her work throughout her life.
Jansson's Moomin characters originated in an anti-Nazi comic strip she created during World War II and later blossomed into an internationally acclaimed series translated into over thirty languages. She also ventured into writing short stories, plays, and an autobiography, "Bildhuggarens dotter" ("Sculptor's Daughter"). Throughout her life, Jansson maintained a private, bohemian lifestyle, sharing a long partnership with graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä. Jansson passed away on June 27, 2001, leaving behind a rich legacy that includes numerous awards and a lasting impact on literature and popular culture, inspiring adaptations in animation, theater, and merchandise.
Tove Jansson
Author
- Born: August 9, 1914
- Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland
- Died: June 27, 2001
- Place of death: Helsinki, Finland
Biography
Tove Marika Jansson was born on August 9, 1914, in Helsinki, Finland. Her father, Viktor Jansson, was a sculptor, and her mother, Signe Hammarsten-Jansson, was a book designer and illustrator. The family lived in Viktor’s studio, surrounded by sculptures and building supplies, and Jansson’s childhood was happy and filled with opportunities for self-expression. Her mother loved to tell stories, and her father often took Jansson and her two brothers out sailing or to look at storms or fires. They spent summers on Helsingfors, a remote island off the Finnish coast, where Jansson continued to work five months a year even as an adult. She was an avid reader, and her mother’s work meant that there were always new books in the house.
After finishing school, Jansson studied book design in Stockholm from 1930 to 1933, studied painting in Helsinki from 1933 to 1936, and took additional art courses in Paris and Florence. She lived with her family, painted, and placed her paintings in exhibitions throughout the 1930’s. Both of her brothers also became artists.
In 1939 Jansson began writing and illustrating children’s books, and she created an anti-Nazi comic strip about a community of trolls she called Moomins. They lived in Moominworld, a rugged forested island based on Helsingfors. After World War II, the Moomins were featured in Jansson’s best-known books, beginning with Småtrollen och den stora översvämmingen (the small trolls and the large flood). From the beginning, the thirteen Moomin books were popular; the first volume was translated into Finnish, English, German, Hebrew, Japanese, and Polish. Jansson had grown up as part of the Swedish-speaking minority in Finland, and her books were written in Swedish.
From 1953 to 1959, Jansson continued the adventures of the Moomintrolls by publishing a comic strip in the London Evening News. The strip was an international sensation, and Jansson’s brother Lars drew it for more than a decade after Jansson moved on to concentrate on art. She never stopped painting seriously, and exhibited periodically with commercial success. She also completed several important murals and frescoes in public buildings.
In addition to children’s books, Jansson wrote short stories, plays, and adult novels. In 1968 she published an autobiography, Bildhuggarens dotter (Sculptor’s Daughter, 1969). Throughout much of her life, Janson lived with her partner, the graphic artist Tuulikki Pietilä. The two women built a small cottage together on Helsingfors, summering there for more than twenty years and collaborating on book projects. Although she was famous and successful, Jansson lived a relatively quiet but bohemian life, avoiding publicity. She died on June 27, 2001.
Jansson’s Moomin books have won several awards, including the Stockholm Award, the Selma Lagerlöf Medal, and the Hans Christian Andersen Award. The popularity of the books and the comics has led to Japanese anime (animated TV shows), musical theater productions, toys, and other licensed merchandise. Her books have been translated into more than thirty languages.