Life and People. Döderhultarn

The Artist Axel Petersson (1868–1925), best known as Döderhultarn, was a pioneer in Swedish sculpture. He was born in the parish of Döderhult in Småland, and it was from this parish that he took his name. He lived and worked his entire adult life in Oskarshamn.

He drew his models and motifs from his immediate surroundings. With a carving knife and alder wood, he cut through all the layers of humanity, and in his roughly carved wooden sculptures, he created a sense of drama and emotion that was hard to resist. Thematically, he returned time and again to the pivotal events in life, such as christenings, military conscriptions, weddings, and funerals. The number of figures in these sculptural groups could vary, as could their clothing and facial features.

Paris, Copenhagen, Brighton, Rome, New York
At the time of his breakthrough in 1909, he was already in his forties, and now critics also surrendered to his simultaneously melancholic and bold figures. Commissions began pouring in. His innovative works were purchased by private individuals, art collectors, and museums, and he participated in many exhibitions, both in Sweden and abroad, including in Paris, Copenhagen, Brighton, Rome, and New York.

Albert Engström and Eugène Jansson were among his strongest supporters. Ernest Thiel was also fascinated by the self-taught artist’s originality and, early on, acquired the sculpture group Peasant Funeral. The Thiel Gallery’s collection has since been expanded through donations with two more of the artist’s works.

The Vulnerability of the Little Person
The Thiel Gallery's anniversary year coincides with the centenary of Döderhultarn’s death. This year marks 100 years since the artist passed away, which we are commemorating with a small exhibition of Döderhultarn’s sculptures in the Munch Room. The exhibition is titled Life and People and centers on the vulnerability of the little person, alone or together with others. It features both sculptures from the gallery’s own collection and borrowed works.

The artist’s life and work are also being thoroughly highlighted this memorial year at the Döderhultarn Museum in Oskarshamn.