Her talented father sympathized with Hitler, but she still loved him.
The exhibition "The Jansson Family of Artists" offers an unusual perspective on the creator of the Moomins and one of Finland's most beloved artists. In the exhibition at the Helsinki Art Museum HAM, for the first time, the main focus is not only on Tove Jansson (1914–2001) – this time the entire gifted family is presented.
The Swedish-speaking Finns, the Janssons, were one of the most significant artistic dynasties in the country. Notably, all family members worked in the field of art.
In this bohemian family of five, art was a unifying force, a way of life and passion, as well as a means of earning a living.
This can be seen in Tove Jansson's painting "Family." In the painting, Tove herself is in the center, to her left is her mother, to her right is her father, and in the foreground sit her brothers.
"For them, creativity was everything. They even felt sorry for families for whom art meant less," says HAM curator Lotta Chelberg.
Her mother had a huge influence on Tove Jansson becoming a famous artist and writer.
Her mother, Signe "Ham" Hammarsten-Jansson (1882–1970), was a Finnish graphic artist of Swedish descent.
Her works adorn Finnish postage stamps, magazines, book covers, and banknotes.
"When Signe was working, Tove sat on her lap and drew along with her. It is said that the girl learned to draw before she could walk," Lotta Chelberg recounts.
Her father, Viktor "Faffan" Jansson (1886–1958), was one of the outstanding Finnish sculptors of the interwar period.
He had a studio at home where the children could observe their father's work.
Tove turned to her father when she needed feedback on her works.
"Her father was an important support for Tove, and she trusted his view on creativity. They often discussed the content and meaning of artworks.
The bohemian lifestyle of the family inevitably influenced the stories about the Moomins, which brought Tove Jansson worldwide fame. Ham and Faffan served as prototypes for Moominmamma and Moominpappa.
All the Jansson children became artists
All the children in the family were encouraged to be creative and raised as artists. Both of Tove Jansson's brothers also became figures in the arts.
Her brother Per Olof Jansson (1920–2019) was a photographer and writer. He created photo illustrations for Tove's last Moomin book, "The Robber in Moominhouse."
Lars "Lasse" Jansson (1926–2000), in turn, wrote scripts and drew Moomin comics, translated them into English, and also wrote novels.
The Janssons were part of the artistic community "Lallukka," located in the Töölö district, and their neighbors in this artistic "dormitory" were also artists from various fields.
Lotta Chelberg notes that the environment in which the children grew up was extremely creative, which also encouraged them to engage in art.
Paintings hung on the walls of the home-studio, and bookshelves were overflowing with books.
Friction and tension in the family
The main illustration for this article is a key work of the exhibition: Tove Jansson's painting titled "Family" (1942). The painting clearly shows that even in this seemingly close-knit family, not everything was so cloudless.
With the onset of World War II, disagreements within the family deepened. Tove's painting reveals the intra-family tension and heated atmosphere caused by differing political views.
Tove was a pacifist and opposed the war. Her father Viktor sympathized with Germany and participated in the Finnish Civil War on the side of the Whites. The word "nazi" is discernible on the newspaper under her father's arm.
In the painting, brother Per Olof has come home on leave from the front. He is playing chess with his younger brother Lasse. The chess pieces that the brothers are using for their game are red and white – a reference to the Civil War in Finland.
The mother's gaze, clad in a white work coat, reveals anxiety.
From postage stamps to murals
The exhibition at HAM features over 140 works and personal items belonging to the Jansson family.
The versatility of Tove Jansson is evidenced by the murals, paintings, drawings, and illustrations she created.
The exhibition also includes drawings, ex-libris, postage stamps, and caricatures created by her mother, as well as several miniature sculptures by her father. From her brothers Per Olof and Lasse, the exhibition includes original comics, photographs, and books.
Tove draws full houses
The stories about the Moomins, created and illustrated by Tove Jansson, remain popular in Finland and around the world. This year, the writer and artist's work is featured in numerous events and exhibitions.
The exhibition "The Jansson Family of Artists" is dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the publication of the Moomin story "Moomintroll and the Comet."
At the same time, an exhibition titled "Escape to Moominvalley" is taking place at the Museum of Architecture and Design in Helsinki. Its theme is Tove Jansson's and the inhabitants of Moominvalley's relationship with architecture, the environment, and design.
The exhibition "The Jansson Family of Artists" at the HAM museum is open until January 10, 2027.
Leave a comment