Gunnar Widforss

Gunnar Mauritz Widforss was born in Stockholm, Sweden on October 21, 1879 the third of thirteen children. His father, Mauritz, owned a firearm and hunting shop. Widforss’ mother, Blenda, had studied art at The Technical School (now Konstfack) and was a noted amateur painter. When he was sixteen years old Widforss would begin his training to become a painter and muralist at the same school.

Following the completion of his studies at the Technical School in 1900, Widforss traveled to St. Petersburg Russia to work as an apprentice decorative painter. He returned home approximately two years later and then embarked on an extended period of travel around Europe and America.