Maria Catharina Wiik (3 August 1853 – 19 June 1928) was a
Finnish painter. She worked principally with still life,
genre images,
landscape paintings and portraits.[1]
Biography
Wiik was born in
Helsinki. She was the daughter of architect Erik Johan Wik (or Wiik) (1804–1876) and his wife Gustava Fredrika Meyer. She was born and grew up in Brunnsparken and attended the Swedish language school
Svenska fruntimmersskolan in
Helsingfors. She then studied drawing with art professor
Adolf von Becker.[2][3]
Encouraged by her family, she studied art during 1874–1875 at the
Academy of Fine Arts in
Helsinki. In 1875, she continued her art studies in Paris under
Tony Robert-Fleury at the
Académie Julian, one of the few private schools accepting women at the time.[1]
From 1875 and in 1880 she became a substitute teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts of Helsinki. Her early paintings accepted for the
Paris Salon in 1880 were portraits. In 1881, she painted a series of small paintings with a more psychological atmosphere including minute details. In spring 1889, she returned to Paris with her friend, the painter
Helene Schjerfbeck to work among others with
Puvis de Chavannes.[4] In 1883–1884, they painted in England and then in 1889 at
St Ives in
Cornwall.[5]
Her last trip to Paris took place in 1905. The rest of her life she spent in Helsinki. Her vision deteriorated, and in 1925 she underwent an eye surgery. Wiik died in
Helsinki in 1928.[1]
Maria Catharina Wiik (3 August 1853 – 19 June 1928) was a
Finnish painter. She worked principally with still life,
genre images,
landscape paintings and portraits.[1]
Biography
Wiik was born in
Helsinki. She was the daughter of architect Erik Johan Wik (or Wiik) (1804–1876) and his wife Gustava Fredrika Meyer. She was born and grew up in Brunnsparken and attended the Swedish language school
Svenska fruntimmersskolan in
Helsingfors. She then studied drawing with art professor
Adolf von Becker.[2][3]
Encouraged by her family, she studied art during 1874–1875 at the
Academy of Fine Arts in
Helsinki. In 1875, she continued her art studies in Paris under
Tony Robert-Fleury at the
Académie Julian, one of the few private schools accepting women at the time.[1]
From 1875 and in 1880 she became a substitute teacher at the Academy of Fine Arts of Helsinki. Her early paintings accepted for the
Paris Salon in 1880 were portraits. In 1881, she painted a series of small paintings with a more psychological atmosphere including minute details. In spring 1889, she returned to Paris with her friend, the painter
Helene Schjerfbeck to work among others with
Puvis de Chavannes.[4] In 1883–1884, they painted in England and then in 1889 at
St Ives in
Cornwall.[5]
Her last trip to Paris took place in 1905. The rest of her life she spent in Helsinki. Her vision deteriorated, and in 1925 she underwent an eye surgery. Wiik died in
Helsinki in 1928.[1]