Ruth Zachrisson

In the diary we meet an artist who, with humor, self-criticism and clarity, formulates her path towards artistic freedom and a voice of her own. During her studies in Dresden in 1930, she wrote: “You cannot paint exactly as another person wants, because you are not that person.”

Her paintings range from cities and studios in Europe to Nordic forests and mythical figures, where nature often appears as a spiritual force. In the work Mother with Children in a Rapid Bed (circa 1942–45), she depicts the sorrow over the transformation of Nämforsen into a hydroelectric power station – a work that can today be read as an early expression of an eco-critical awareness.

Ruth Zachrisson – An artist’s journey highlights a female artistry with local relevance in both Sörmland and Västernorrland, and which has long been in the shadow of established art history.