Helene Schjerfbeck (1862–1946)

Helene Schjerfbeck was a Finnish painter. She is most widely known for her realist works and self-portrait. Throughout her long life, her work changed dramatically.

She showed talent at an early age, and by the time she was eleven she was enrolled at the Finnish Art Society Drawing School, where her fees were paid by Adolf von Becker, who saw promise in her. At this School Schjerfbeck met Helena Westermarck.

Schjerfbeck graduated from the Finnish Art Society drawing school. She continued her education, with Westermarck, at a private academy run by Adolf von Becker, which utilised the University of Helsinki drawing studio.

Professor G. Asp paid for her tuition to Becker’s private academy. There, Becker himself taught her French oil paintingtechniques.

In 1879, at the age of 17, Schjerfbeck won third prize in a competition organised by the Finnish Art Society, and in 1880 her work was displayed in an annual Finnish Art Society exhibition.