Alice Nordin and Hjördis Nordin-Tengbom
Sisters Alice and Hjördis were both renowned artists of the early 20th century, and are represented with works in several public buildings both in Sweden and abroad.
About the archives
The Alice Nordin Collection (A 17) covers the years 1890–1948 and amounts to 50 volumes. They include many letters, manuscripts, notebooks and newspapper clippings, as well as photographs, sketches and drawing of her works.
The Hjördis Nordin-Tengbom Collection (A 19) covers the years 1891 through 1963 and amounts to 32 volumes, with several letters, photographs and journal notes. The archive includes photographs and drawings from the wedding of Ann-Marie Tengbom and Otto von Bismarck in 1928.
The archive collections of Alice and Hjördis both include documents and materials from the other sister, respectively.
Biography
Alice Maria Nordin (1871–1948) was the leading female sculptor at the start of the 20th century. She studied under, among others, John Börjesson at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm, and Jean Antoine Injalbert in Paris. Alice received much attention and several awards for her sculptures. Idun magazine named her the foremost female Swedish artist of 1905. She was a prolific sculptor, and she took part in every major exhibition in Sweden from 1900 onwards. She was the first woman to have a solo exhibition of sculptures in 1911 - a major success with 3 000 visitors. In 1925 she was awarded the Litteris et Artibus. Alice is represented in several museums, such as the Nationalmuseum in Stockholm, the Museum of Norrköping and the Golden Gate Museum, San Francisco. Alice wrote incessantly: journals, letters to her extensive circle of friends, manuscripts for articles, exhibition reviews, and presentations of her own works.
Hjördis Fredrika Nordin-Tengbom (1877–1969) studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm under John Börjesson and in Paris at the Académie Julian and the Académie Colarossi. Above all, she was active as an artisan, and made, among other things, lamps for the Nordiska Kompaniet. Following her marriage to architect
Ivar Tengbom, their four children claimed the majority of her time, and her artistic endeavour was put on the back burner. After the divorce in 1927, she had an exhibition in 1931 alongside her friend from school, Märta Måås-Fjetterström. Hjördis has mainly made portrait busts, and is represented at Nationalmuseum and at Prins Eugen's Waldemarsudde. Konserthuset Stockholm displays a marble frieze designed by her, the Barnorkestern.
This text is partially based on Alice Maria Nordin, and Hjördis Fredrika Nordin-Tengbom, from the Biographical Dictionary of Swedish Women.
Read more
The Biographical Dictionary of Swedish Women
LIBRIS, the Swedish national library database: by Alice Nordin, on Alice Nordin
LIBRIS, the Swedish national library database: by Hjördis Nordin-Tengbom, on Hjördis Nordin-Tengbom