Tuula Karjalainen (b. 1942) is the author of the definitive biography of Tove Jansson, the Finland-Swedish artist, author and creator of the Moomins. Karjalainen holds a doctorate in art history and uses her comprehensive knowledge to analyse Jansson’s artistic output against the background of 20th-century Finnish art. She also sheds light on the connections between the Moomins books and Tove Jansson herself. The result is an informative, lively portrait of the life and work of a much-loved artist that was awarded the Lauri Jäntti Prize.
Dr Karjalainen has written several non-fiction books on art. She is a former director of the Helsinki Art Museum and Kiasma Museum of Contemporary Art. She wrote her doctoral dissertation on the origins of abstract painting in Finland. Dr Karjalainen has held a professorship in art history at the University of Helsinki and has curated numerous exhibitions, including the gala centenary exhibition of Tove Jansson’s works at the Ateneum Museum in Helsinki.
German translations:
Tove Jansson – Die Biografie, Urachhaus 2014, Übersetzung: Anke Michler & Regine Pirschel
Photo: © Jeppe Tuomainen