Tove Marika Jansson was a Swedish-speaking Finnish author, novelist, painter, illustrator and comic strip author. Brought up by artistic parents, Jansson studied art from 1930 to 1938 in Helsinki, Stockholm, and Paris. She held her first solo art exhibition in 1943. Over the same period, she penned short stories and articles for publication, and subsequently drew illustrations for book covers, advertisements, and postcards. She continued her work as an artist and writer for the rest of her life.
c. 1970
Jansson in 1923
Jansson in 1956 with Moomintroll dolls made by Atelier Fauni
Cover of Garm magazine, October 1944, lampooning Adolf Hitler as "self-important and comic"
Swedish-speaking population of Finland
The Swedish-speaking population of Finland is a linguistic minority in Finland. They maintain a strong identity and are seen either as a separate cultural or linguistic group or, while not regularly, as a distinct nationality. They speak Finland Swedish, which encompasses both a standard language and distinct dialects that are mutually intelligible with the dialects spoken in Sweden and, to a lesser extent, other Scandinavian languages.
The number of Swedish speakers in Finland 1880–2009 by province. The population in Vaasa province declined in the early 20th century due to emigration to North America and again in the 1960s due to emigration to Sweden.
Envelope stamp (not postage) issued by the Swedish People's party in 1922.
Finnish 17th century nobleman Gustaf Horn
Finnish 17th century clergyman Johannes Gezelius the elder