Ebba Masalin (29 August 1873 - 31 March 1942) was a Finnish painter, draftsman and illustrator.
Ebba Masalin | |
|---|---|
 Ebba Masalin | |
| Born | 29 August 1873 Mikkeli, Finland |
| Died | 31 March 1942 (aged 68) |
| Nationality | Finnish |
| Known for | paintings and illustrations |
Masalin's parents were Gabriel Johan and Emilia Masalin. She was born in the town of Mikkeli.[1] Both her parents' families had been civil servants for several generations and her father became Governor of Oulu Province.[2] She did not marry and lived with her sister for much of her life.
Masalin studied at the Art Society of Finland's Drawing School in Helsinki between 1892 and 1898. Her work was included in national exhibitions by Finnish artists between 1898 and 1905.[3][2]
She worked as a teacher and illustrator. Her best-known paintings were for schools, depicting wild and garden plants and sometimes animals.[4] These paintings show the plants on a black background, as in a school blackboard, and were designed by John Lindén, the husband of her cousin. They were published by the Otava company. It is likely that her sister Hedvig made the engravings needed for printing these illustrations.[2][5] This type of wall illustration was widely used in schools in Finland from the late 19th to the mid-20th century and was an important educational tool.[6][4]
Masalin also painted portraits and landscapes.[2]
References
edit- ^ "Ebba Masalin". Taito. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ a b c d Pekkarinen, Susanna. "The Mystery Artist Behind Sensitive School Boards - Can Ebba Masalin's Art Be Found in Your Home?". Yle. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ Viiliäinen, Katri (2019). Women artists in the newspapers: Exhibition of Finnish artists in 1899 (PDF). University of Jyväskylä. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ a b Konttijärvi, Eija. "Blackboard art - schools educational images from the museum's collections Museum of Northern Ostrobothnia 9.2. - 30.3.2008" (PDF). Museum of Northern Ostrobothnia. Retrieved 31 May 2020.
- ^ "Ebba Masalin". Meilläkotona.fi. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
- ^ Leinonen, Liisa. "Racism and meadow geniuses - The charming school boards are based on a rugged worldview". Yle. Retrieved 31 May 2020.