"Orchids" 1907 by Tyra Kleen Tyra Kleen (1874-1951) was a Swedish artist, author, and women's rights activist. She made significant contributions to the Swedish fin de siècle art movement through her paintings, illustrations, lithographs, and publications.[1][2] ## Key Points about Tyra Kleen: - Born in Sweden to a Swedish diplomat family, she studied art in various European cities like Paris, Munich, and Rome.[1] - Her artistic style was influenced by art nouveau, jugendstil, and symbolism, with a unique continental symbolistic style inspired by artists like Böcklin and Puvis de Chavannes.[1] - Kleen was deeply involved in the Swedish art scene and was one of the first members of the Swedish Women Artists' Association (Föreningen Svenska Konstnärinnor).[2] - In addition to visual arts, she wrote travelogues, novels, art theory books, and worked as a journalist for women's rights advocacy magazines.[2] - Kleen extensively documented ceremonial dances, shadow plays, and rituals in Southeast Asia, particularly in Bali and Java, through her watercolor paintings and illustrations.[2] - She considered oriental dance to be the highest art form and strived to accurately portray her impressions through her graceful style.[2] - Kleen led an unconventional life as a "vagabond and adventuress," fighting against obstacles faced by women artists and interweaving dance, literature, activism, and adventure into her unique artistic oeuvre.[2] Citations: [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyra_Kleen [2] https://www.thielskagalleriet.se/en/utstallning/tyra-kleen-1874-1951-artist-vagabond-adventurer/ [3] https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tyra_Kleen [4] https://www.thielskagalleriet.se/utstallning/tyra-kleen-1874-1951-konstnar-vagabond-aventyrare/ [5] https://www.norrkopingskonstmuseum.se/utstallning/tyrakleen/