Elisabeth Bergstrand-Poulsen

Anna Elisabeth Albertina Bergstrand-Poulsen (12 November 1887 – 18 February 1955) was a Swedish writer, painter, illustrator and textile artist who lived in Denmark after marrying the sculptor Axel Poulsen in 1917. As a painter, she exhibited from 1922, initially specializing in child portraits, later in religious works including altarpieces. She embarked on writing in 1926 with a copiously illustrated book on people from her native Småland, the first of many successful works influenced by her strong Christian beliefs and childhood memories. Several were translated into Danish, Dutch, German or English.

Early life and education Born on 12 November 1887 in the village of Långasjö in south-eastern Sweden, Anna Elisabeth Albertina Bergstrand was the daughter of the schoolteacher and organist Per Magnus Bergstrand (1855–1927) and Anna Hammargren (1861–1946), a devout Christian. She was the second of six children. In 1926, her exhibition of some 60 illustrations depicting the people of Småland at the Gummeson Gallery in Stockholm met with enthusiastic acclaim. In 1950, she created an altarpiece for Långasjö Church but it was not inaugurated until 1957, two years after her death.

Elisabeth Bergstrand-Poulsen died in Charlottenlund on 18 February 1955 and is buried in Ordrup Cemetery.