Hugo Simberg

• Name — Hugo Simberg • Birth Name — Hugo Gerhard Simberg • Born — 24 June 1873 • Birthplace — Hamina, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire • Died — 12 July 1917 • Place of death — Ähtäri, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire • Field — Painter • Movement — Symbolism • Works — The Garden of Death (1896) The Wounded Angel (1903)

• Illustration — The birthplace of Hugo Simberg in the town of Hamina • Illustration — Working on the Tampere Cathedral frescoes, 1904 Simberg was born on 24 June 1873, at Hamina (Fredrikshamn), Finland, the son of Colonel Nicolai Simberg and Ebba Matilda Simberg (née Widenius). Simberg learned to read thanks to his aunt Alexandra, who ran a private school in the family home. His aunt was an amateur painter and likely influenced Simberg's decision to become a painter. In 1891, at the age of 18, he enrolled at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art, and he also studied at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Society from 1893 to 1895. His teachers there were, among others, Helene Schjerfbeck and Elin Danielson-Gambogi. Then, in 1895, after his aunt had sent him a newspaper clipping about symbolism with the hope that it would help him find the courage to embark on a new path, he decided to become the private pupil of Akseli Gallen-Kallela at his wilderness studio Kalela in Ruovesi. He studied under Gallen-Kallela for three periods between 1895 and 1897. In 1896, Simberg went to London, and in 1897 to Paris and Italy. During these years he exhibited several works at the Finnish Artists' autumn exhibitions, including Autumn, Frost, The Devil Playing and Aunt Alexandra (1898), which were well received. Critical success led to his being made a member of the Finnish Art Association and to his being appointed to teach at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art. In 1904, he was commissioned to decorate the interior of St John's church in Tampere (now Tampere Cathedral), a project which he carried out with Magnus Enckell between 1904 and 1906. There was controversy around Simberg's work, as the serpent and the nakedness of the garland-bearing boys, central parts of the paintings, caused indignation. The supervising committee approved the work by only one vote. At the turn of the year 1907–08 he made a short visit to the United States. He also designed the UPM-Kymmene logo, the Griffon (1899). From around 1907 to 1913, he taught at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Association at Ateneum. In 1910, he married Anni Bremer. They had two children, Tom and Uhra-Beata, the latter of whom became a ryijy artist. He died in Ähtäri on 12 July 1917. His biographer, Helena Ruuska, suspects that he battled an unknown disease, possibly syphilis, for a long time.

Simberg's paintings emphasize mainly macabre and supernatural topics. In the autumn of 1902, Silmberg fell ill with meningitis and was forced to stay in bed for much of the winter. After recovering, he painted his most famous painting: The Wounded Angel. Its titular character appears in the shape of a winged angel with a bandaged head, borne on a stretcher by two somberly dressed boys, one of whom looks toward the viewer with a serious expression. The painting is the best known of the artist's works and is especially famous in Finland. The Finnish symphonic metal band Nightwish released in 2007 a music video influenced by this painting, "Amaranth". Another famous painting is The Garden of Death, which, like many of Simberg's paintings, depicts a gloomy, otherworldly scene. The central figures are reminiscent of the classic black-clad Grim Reaper, but paradoxically are tending to gardens, traditionally symbols of birth or renewal.

Hugo Simberg was recorded at birth as Hugo Gerhard Simberg. The authorities additionally record the headings Hugo Gerhard Simberg, H. Simberg and H. His recorded languages were Finnish and Swedish. He was the child of Tom Simberg.

Hugo Simberg is recorded with the occupation graphic artist. Classed in the genre Symbolism. Recorded as painter, sculptor, architect and graphic artist.