Bror Hjorth was a Swedish artist born in Jonstorp in 1894.
He recieved his artistic education in Paris, where he lived throughout the 1920s, starting as a sculptor before becoming a painter. He found inspiration in both older and contemporary art, as well as folk art. His robust expressionism and strong colors convey a celebration of life, often drawing on his own experiences and heritage for his narrative paintings. His early sculptures were roughly cut in stone or wood, making use of the immanent shape and quality of the materials,
He had his breakthrough in the mid-1930s when his erotic sculptures were censored by police.
This created a lively press debate and made him widely known. His subjects include erotic motifs, folk musicians, and Swedish folklore, as well as religious works. He was Professor of Drawing at the Royal Art Academy in Stockholm for ten years. His late paintings used dark outlines to frame bright unmixed colors, while his sculptures remained heavy and voluminous. His home and studio are now the museum Bror Hjorths Hus,
“His ability to convey the essence of an individual through paint and canvas is a testament to his skill and sensitivity as an artist.”
