Gerda Tirén

Gerda Maria Tirén, née Rydberg (11 January 1858, Stockholm – 9 October 1928, Länna Parish, Uppland) was a Swedish painter and illustrator. She did landscapes from France and Sweden, children's portraits, and genre scenes. Her illustrations were often featured in the magazine (Santa Claus).

Biography Her father, Carl Henrik Rydberg (1820–1902) was a writer and journalist. Her mother, Emma (1820–1899), was the granddaughter of portrait painter and sculptor Jonas Forsslund.

She studied at the Technical School in Stockholm and at the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts. Thanks to a scholarship, she was able to study in Paris and at the artists' colony in Grez-sur-Loing.

In 1884, she married the painter, Johan Tirén, who she had met in Paris; most likely at a private art academy operated by Edvard Perséus. They had four children: Nils and Stina, who also became artists, Karin (1887–1951) and Elisabet (1890–1937).

Today, she is probably best remembered for 116 black and white illustrations she created in 1899 for an edition of Robinson Crusoe, published in a series of children's books called the . She illustrated several other books in that series, including Life in the Country by Fritz Reuter, as well as drawing designs for Christmas and Easter cards.

She was buried next to her husband at the and was later joined there by her children..