Study of a Man, Mina Carlson-Bredberg, 1886

Renowned Swedish painter Wilhelmina Carlson-Bredberg, better known as Mina, left a lasting impression on the art world with her captivating portraits and evocative scenes from contemporary life. Raised in an affluent family involved in cultural circles, she studied painting under Kerstin Cardon and Elisabeth Keyser before becoming a victim of societal pressures when marrying Vilhelm Swalin at age 20. Not one to be held back by convention however, seven years later Bredberg chose to break away so she could travel abroad en route for further artistic endeavors - part of wave Nordic female contemporaries who were determined to make their mark through expressionist works during that era.