Axel "Döderhultarn" Petersson,[1] formerly Axel Petersson, (12 December 1868 – 15 March 1925) was a Swedish wood carver who was one of the recognized masters of wood carving, most famous for Scandinavian flat-plane-style woodcarving.
Axel Petersson DöderhultarnSelf-portraitAt the dance course
Axel Petersson Döderhultarn was born in the parish of Döderhult in Oskarshamn Municipality. His parents were Eva Lotta Persdotter and Per August Petersson. When he was five years of age, his father died. Members of his family decided the best thing for him to do as a young adult was to emigrate to the United States. Petersson did not emigrate to America, as his family had planned, and after a brief time away he moved back to help his widowed mother in Oskarshamn.[1]
In his youth, his primary interest was in whittling, and carving small figures. He worked on figure carving and sold figurines in the local market in Oskarshamn. Most of the figures he sold were refined traditional wood carvings. Sometime around 1900 he began to carve in a minimalist style. These are the carved figures he is most famous for. Many of these carvings sold in the local market for $1.00 – $2.00 USD. Adjusted for inflation, $1.50 in 1900 would be equivalent to $33.23 in 2005.
Recognitionedit
In 1909, Petersson was invited to participate in an exhibition in Stockholm. The public response to his work was overwhelming. Georg Nordensvan wrote in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter on 20 January 1909, "Axel Petersson's old men are irresistibly amusing. They depict such primitive art as one could wish for, made out of a couple of simple contours using only a couple of strokes, but, from an artist with sure eye and nimble hands. It is a new conception with a personal touch...small masterpieces of complete nonconformative art."[2]
After his success with the Stockholm exhibition, some of the museums in Sweden began purchasing his work. He had many requests to exhibit his work throughout Europe and the United States. In 1911 fifty-seven of his figures were on display in Oskarshamn, and the groundwork was laid for a Döderhultarn Museum. His work was also featured in exhibitions in Copenhagen, Brighton, Rome and Turin during 1911. The next year some of his work was shipped to the United States and the Swedish Consulate sent it on tour in several major cities: New York City (1913) and San Francisco and Chicago (1915).[2]
Legacyedit
Döderhultarn became known as one of Sweden's great artists. His work, as well as photos of his work, were circulated worldwide and he served as an inspiration to other woodcarvers, including Carl Johan Trygg (1887–1954) and H. S. "Andy" Anderson (1892–1960). His popularity was so great that Döderhultarn figure became the generic term for any small figure in the minimalist style.[3][4]
Notesedit
^ Axel "Döderhultarn" Petersson was born Axel Petersson. After his success and many tour requests he was hailed as "the man from Döderhult (Döderhultarn)" Petersson became known by the nickname Döderhultarn.[5]
^ Page 26, Refsal, Harley (1992). Woodcarving in the Scandinavian Style. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, New York. p. 128. ISBN0-8069-8633-6.
Referencesedit
^"Axel R Petersson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^"Axel Petersson 1868—1925". Döderhultarn. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^"The Trygg Family: prolific carvers who spanned two continents". hobonickels.org. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^"Wit in Wood: Nordic Figure Carving". American Swedish Institute. Retrieved September 1, 2019.
^"Axel R Petersson". Svenskt biografiskt lexikon (in Swedish). The Swedish National Archives. Retrieved 9 June 2023.
Other sourcesedit
Refsal, Harley (1992). Woodcarving in the Scandinavian Style. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., New York, New York. p. 128. ISBN0-8069-8633-6.
axel, petersson, döderhultarn, axel, döderhultarn, petersson, formerly, axel, petersson, december, 1868, march, 1925, swedish, wood, carver, recognized, masters, wood, carving, most, famous, scandinavian, flat, plane, style, woodcarving, self, portrait, dance,. Axel Doderhultarn Petersson 1 formerly Axel Petersson 12 December 1868 15 March 1925 was a Swedish wood carver who was one of the recognized masters of wood carving most famous for Scandinavian flat plane style woodcarving Axel Petersson Doderhultarn Self portrait At the dance course Contents 1 Early years 2 Recognition 3 Legacy 4 Notes 5 References 6 Other sources 7 External linksEarly years editAxel Petersson Doderhultarn was born in the parish of Doderhult in Oskarshamn Municipality His parents were Eva Lotta Persdotter and Per August Petersson When he was five years of age his father died Members of his family decided the best thing for him to do as a young adult was to emigrate to the United States Petersson did not emigrate to America as his family had planned and after a brief time away he moved back to help his widowed mother in Oskarshamn 1 In his youth his primary interest was in whittling and carving small figures He worked on figure carving and sold figurines in the local market in Oskarshamn Most of the figures he sold were refined traditional wood carvings Sometime around 1900 he began to carve in a minimalist style These are the carved figures he is most famous for Many of these carvings sold in the local market for 1 00 2 00 USD Adjusted for inflation 1 50 in 1900 would be equivalent to 33 23 in 2005 Recognition editIn 1909 Petersson was invited to participate in an exhibition in Stockholm The public response to his work was overwhelming Georg Nordensvan wrote in the newspaper Dagens Nyheter on 20 January 1909 Axel Petersson s old men are irresistibly amusing They depict such primitive art as one could wish for made out of a couple of simple contours using only a couple of strokes but from an artist with sure eye and nimble hands It is a new conception with a personal touch small masterpieces of complete nonconformative art 2 After his success with the Stockholm exhibition some of the museums in Sweden began purchasing his work He had many requests to exhibit his work throughout Europe and the United States In 1911 fifty seven of his figures were on display in Oskarshamn and the groundwork was laid for a Doderhultarn Museum His work was also featured in exhibitions in Copenhagen Brighton Rome and Turin during 1911 The next year some of his work was shipped to the United States and the Swedish Consulate sent it on tour in several major cities New York City 1913 and San Francisco and Chicago 1915 2 Legacy editDoderhultarn became known as one of Sweden s great artists His work as well as photos of his work were circulated worldwide and he served as an inspiration to other woodcarvers including Carl Johan Trygg 1887 1954 and H S Andy Anderson 1892 1960 His popularity was so great that Doderhultarn figure became the generic term for any small figure in the minimalist style 3 4 Notes edit Axel Doderhultarn Petersson was born Axel Petersson After his success and many tour requests he was hailed as the man from Doderhult Doderhultarn Petersson became known by the nickname Doderhultarn 5 Page 26 Refsal Harley 1992 Woodcarving in the Scandinavian Style Sterling Publishing Co Inc New York New York p 128 ISBN 0 8069 8633 6 References edit Axel R Petersson Svenskt biografiskt lexikon Retrieved September 1 2019 Axel Petersson 1868 1925 Doderhultarn Retrieved September 1 2019 The Trygg Family prolific carvers who spanned two continents hobonickels org Retrieved September 1 2019 Wit in Wood Nordic Figure Carving American Swedish Institute Retrieved September 1 2019 Axel R Petersson Svenskt biografiskt lexikon in Swedish The Swedish National Archives Retrieved 9 June 2023 Other sources editRefsal Harley 1992 Woodcarving in the Scandinavian Style Sterling Publishing Co Inc New York New York p 128 ISBN 0 8069 8633 6 Refsal Harley 2015 Carving Flat Plane Style Caricatures Fox Chapel Publishing ISBN 978 1 56523 858 9 Refsal Harley 2015 Scandinavian Figure Carving Fox Chapel Publishing ISBN 978 1565238756 Refsal Harley 2004 Art amp Technique of Scandinavian Style Woodcarving Fox Chapel Publishing ISBN 978 1565232303External links editDoderhultarn homepage Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Axel Petersson Doderhultarn amp oldid 1214610026, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
