Tuulikki Pietilä

Tuulikki Pietilä was one of the most influential figures in Finnish graphic art. She began her studies at the Turku School of Drawing (1933-1936). Later, she attended the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Association (1936-1940), the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Stockholm (1945-1949) and the Fernand Léger Academy of Art in Paris (1949-1953). In 1956 she met her partner, the female author Tove Jansson (1914-2001). They lived and often worked together until Jansson’s death in 2001. Together they also ran a gallery in Helsinki. Pietilä was active for more than 50 years as a graphic artist, teacher and collaborator with art organizations. She was a master of graphic methods and techniques, from engraving to woodcut, from polychromy to lithography, and was always experimenting with new methods. A technically versatile artist, her work ranged from realism to cubism to abstract art, constructivism and informalism. Pietilä executed all graphic work processes herself including the printing. From 1956 to 1960 she also taught at the Academy of Arts.

In 1963 Pietilä received the Pro Finlandia medal and was appointed professor in 1982. She was also awarded the Order of a Commander of the Finnish Lion in 1994. She bequeathed her estate to the National Gallery Ateneum. Her brother was the architect Reima Pietilä (1923-1993).

The motif of Basketball Players appeared several times. In 1952 she produced a drypoint etching in the format 41 × 29 cm. Tour de France from 1951 was created in the same technique (33.5 x 24 cm, sheet 39.6 x 29.6 cm) as well as El Torero (Corrida) from 1951 (27.5 × 32.5 cm). The latter was a linocut according to the Official Report, but there is also an etching of the same title. All. three works are kept in the National Museum.