Good Luck Elsa Thoresen

Hardcover, English, 2024-08-13

© Thomas Millroth, 2024
Translator: Christine Antaya
Designer: Cilla Nabo

Repro: Baltasar Aguirre

Correction: Inger Molin

Carlsson Bokförlag

The artist Elsa Thoresen (1906 – 1994) was born in the United States with Norwegian roots. She lived for a few years in Oslo, where she also received her education. She soon moved to Denmark, where she married Vilhelm Bjerke Petersen. They were both central figures in radical Danish surrealism, a group that turned its attention to the Nazi German occupiers during the war. However, they managed to escape to Sweden, where they came to spend time intensively with the artists of the Halmstad Group. Thoresen was clearly appreciated by the portal figure of international surrealism, André Breton. He selected her works for the movement's major exhibitions in 1938 and 1947. After fleeing to Sweden, she worked both here and in Denmark for a few years, but returned to the United States in 1953. From this time there are a number of abstract paintings that have almost never been shown. Over the years, Elsa Thoresen disappeared into oblivion, but now she is being rediscovered.

Thomas Millroth is a writer, art connoisseur, former museum director and author of a number of acclaimed books on his subject.