Evert Taube
Evert Taube was not just one of the foremost song composers and authors of his time, but also a highly skilled graphic artist.
Om arkivet
The Evert Taube archive (H 198) boasts a considerable amount of manuscripts and drafts for several of his works, as well as photographs, drawings, newspaper clippings and an extensive correspondance. The archive includes the papers of Taube's wife, Astri Taube. The material spans some 35 shelf metres, including about 11 500 letters, over 4 500 of which are written by Evert Taube himself. Of these, some 2 500 are addressed to Astri Taube. The Gothenburg University Library acquired the Evert Taube archive from his heirs in 1997.
Biography
Artist, songwriter and author Axel Evert Taube (1890-1976) was born in Gothenburg as the fourth child of master lighthousekeeper Carl-Gunnar Taube (1853-1945) and Julia Sofia Jakobsdotter (1862-1947). Evert grew up on the island of Vinga and left home at seventeen to study art in Stockholm. In 1908 he went to sea for the first time, and spent 1911-1915 in Argentina. Upon his return to Sweden he wrote various articles for the press, and made his debut as a singer in 1918. In the same year, his first novel was published: Inte precis om kvinnorna, and in the following year his first collection of songs, Sju sjömansvisor och byssan lull. Taube has written a large body of songs, prose works, articles and theatrical plays. He has also had a career as a graphic artist, mainly inspired by Argentina, Bohuslän, the Stockholm archipelago, Liguria and Provence.
In 1925 Taube married artist Astri Bergman (1898-1980), daughter of art caster to the court Herman Bergman (1869-1954) and Melén Tholff (1872-1962). Astri had many early contacts with several of the main artists of her time, including Carl Milles (her godfather), Carl Eldh and Christian Eriksson. She secured a thorough art education for herself in Sweden and Paris, and during her years of study she met Evert Taube. Astri and Evert had several joint exhibitions, the first one at Galleri Gummeson in Stockholm in 1925. By and by, Astri had to assume an increasing responsibility for their family, but still found time for many commissions, mainly portraits. Her children and her husband often served as models for her work. She frequently worked in watercolours, and the motifs often came from Sjösala, Provence and Greece, or were inspired by Taube's songs. In the 1970s, Astri hosted her first solo exhibition, followed by a great many other exhibitions until the time of her death. It is mainly her expressive children's portraits that have come to signify her artistry.
Locate the archive
The archive has a complete inventory, as well as a list of the correspondence which is part of the collection. Both can be found in Alvin as well as in the offices of the Manuscripts Section.
Contakt
Gothenburg University Library Manuscripts Section
Contact
Visit us
The Humanities Library
Renströmsgatan 4
405 30 GOTHENBURG
Read more
On Evert Taube via Litteraturbanken
Webiste of the Taube association
Evert Taubes scener / David Anthin
Evert Taubes musik / Olle Edström