Ivan Lönnberg

Ivan Lönnberg was a Swedish modernist painter whose work included street views, portraits, and interiors. Lönnberg began his artistic career by studying at a private school before holding an exhibition in Stockholm in 1912. In January 1914 he moved to Paris and became part of a group of Swedish painters based in the south of the city. Later that year Lönnberg joined the French Foreign Legion as a corporal just after the start of World War I. However when he was fighting for the French side he was killed in action near the German line in the final year of the war.

Including his paintings from art school and self-portraits Lönnberg had a relatively small oeuvre with approximately 50 known works. Most of his surviving works are housed in the Moderna Museet in Stockholm with around 35 items listed in their collection. In 1942 a memorial exhibition was held with 48 of Lönnberg’s works being shown.

As well as being an artist Lönnberg had a brief career as a distance runner. At the 1912 Stockholm Olympics he was selected to run in the marathon but did not finish the course.

Personal Best: Mar – unknown.