Ernst Josephson

The artist and poet Ernst Josephson was born in 1851 in a Jewish middle class home in Stockholm. At the age of 16 Josephson started at the Academy of fine arts, where after followed studies in Paris and the Netherlands, among other places. "I shall become the Rembrandt of Sweden or die!" the twenty year old Josephson declares. As an artist Ernst Josephson is successful in many ways, and he is awarded with a royal medal. But he also has several misfortunes and personal tragedies. Already at an early age Josephson is affected by syphilis, and he gets an unhappy love life. The paintings "Näcken" and "Strömkarlen" (representing the Neck) which are of great importance to Josephson are rejected. According to a reviewer "Näcken" provoked "a scream of horror" when it was shown for the first time. But later this painting was reassessed, and today it is counted among our art treasures.

In the summer 1888 Ernst Josephson is in a state of destitution, and his dyes and canvases are finished up. On the isle Bréhat in Bretagne Josephson devotes himself to spiritualism. He is caught by religious delusions and believes he is God and Christ. A couple of months later Josephson is taken to a lunatic asylum, which is today the asylum of Ulleråker, in Uppsala, Sweden. He stays there for some months. His diagnosis was paranoia, which nowadays corresponds to schizophrenia. After some time Ernst Josephson moved to Stockholm, where two ladies took care of him until his death in 1906.

Ernst Josephson continued drawing and painting after his falling ill in schizophrenia, but in a more independent and expressionistic style. Before being taken ill Josephson became famous for his masterly oil-portraits. Historical motives and pictures from myths and fairy-tales dominate the art from his ill period.

Right: "The Creation of Adam", reproduced with permission from The Swedish National Gallery in Stockholm.

In a state of spiritualistic trance Josephson creates visionary poems, and pictures signed by the names of dead artists. Among the works are lyric and devoted linear drawings and paintings that represent soulful beings with melancholy eyes. Some of Josephsons most important creations, for instance the painting "Gåslisa", as well as the collection of poems named "Svarta Rosor och Gula" were made during his illness. In the period from 1890 to 1900 Josephson is rehabilitated as an artist. A couple of decades later the modern view of the art from Josephson´s ill period made a break-through. This art, just like Carl Fredrik Hill´s, has been a source of inspiration to many artists of Modernism.

Literature:

Richard Berg. Målaren Ernst Josephson. Ord och Bild. 1893
Erik Blomberg. Ernst Josephson - hans liv. 1951
H H Brunner. Ernst Josephson. Exhibition catalogue. 1991
Börje Cronholm. Ernst Josephsons psykiska sjukdom i Erik Blombergs tolkning. Ord och Bild. 1961
Börje Cronholm. Schizofrena konstnärer. Nytt och Nyttigt nr 3. 1958
Ingrid Mesterton. Vägen till försoning. En studie i Ernst Josephsons religiösa fantasivärld. Swedish dissertation printed in 1957.

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