For more resources on Scandinavian architecture, art and design, visit the Architecture & Art Library.
Below are some examples of subject searches you can use to find books at UIUC on Scandinavian art and design. These subject headings become more narrowly focused from left to right. For example, "Arts, Scandinavian" will return more books than if you search "Arts, Scandinavian -- 19th century." The latter will have more precise results.
To conduct a subject search in the Library Catalog Advanced Search, use the following steps:
You can find additional subject headings in the Subject section of the record for a book you are interested in.
Books on Scandinavian art and design are held in various locations throughout the University Library system, most notably in the Art and Architecture Library and the Main Stacks.
The following books represent some key resources to get you started, but to find a more comprehensive list, use the subject terms on the left.
Vilhelm Hammershoi by
Vilhelm Hammershoi was a leading Danish painter of his generation. In this illustrated book - winner of the Amelienborg Prize in its Danish version - the author examines the life and work of Hammershoi.
Nationalism and the Nordic Imagination - Swedish Art of the 1890s by 
Northern Arts by
Northern Arts is a magnificent and provocative exploration of Scandinavian literature and art. With intellectual power and deep emotional insights, writer and critic Arnold Weinstein guides us through the most startling works created by the writers and artists of Scandinavia over the past two centuries. Here readers will gain new perspectives on canonical giants such as Søren Kierkegaard, Henrik Ibsen, August Strindberg, Edvard Munch, Knut Hamsun, and Ingmar Bergman. Readers will also encounter popular favorites like children's writer Astrid Lindgren, and come to know the work of lesser-known masters such as the novelist Tarjei Vesaas and the painters Ernst Josephson and Lena Cronqvist. Weinstein uses the concept of "breakthrough"--boundary smashing, restlessness, and the exploding of traditional forms and values--as a thematic lens through which to expose the roiling energies and violence that course through Scandinavian literature and art. Defying preconceptions of Scandinavian culture as depressive or brooding, Weinstein invites us to imagine anew this transformative and innovative tradition of art that continually challenges ideas about the sacred and the profane, family and marriage, children, patriarchy, and personal identity. Through these works he brings us face-to-face with our most hidden selves and urges, enriching our understanding of the emotions and forces that govern our lives. Northern Arts is the essential introduction to Scandinavian literature and art, one that illuminates the fierce beauty and breathtaking reach of these incomparable works.
Bent by
Bent looks at the ways in which issues of gender and sexuality inform the work of four artists: Eija-Liisa Ahtila, Jesper Just, Annika Larsson, and Annica Karlsson Rixon. Through photography, video, and film, they draw from the rich media bank of images of masculinity and feminity circulated in advertising, film, historical art, and popular culture. Constructing dialogues between past, present, and future, and acknowledging the growing role mediated images play in culture, Ahtila, Just, Larsson, and Karlsson Rixon explore the importance of images of gender and sexuality in formations of contemporary identity.
Ceramic Art in Finland by
In a series of essays and superb images, this gloriously illustrated book discusses and illustrates the whole spectrum of Finnish ceramic art - its pioneers, personalities, techniques and distinctive works.
Scandinavian Design by
Clean, elegant lines, delicate color schemes, well-proportioned, light-filled spaces, and natural materials--the hallmarks of Scandinavian design are unmistakable. As the trend in residential design continues to move toward pared-down, comfortably elegant, environmentally friendly homes, the Scandinavian aesthetic has become a global influence in interior design. Lars Bolander, one of Sweden's foremost interior designers, has been creating the Scandinavian look in homes all over the world for decades. In this impressively illustrated volume, he and author Heather Smith MacIsaac, a former editor of House & Garden magazine, share their expert knowledge of the very best in Scandinavian design, past and present, offering guidance on how to achieve the Scandinavian look, incorporate the trademark elements into any decor, and mix and match traditional and modern, humble and grand. Praise for Lars Bolander's Scandinavian Design: "A private, exclusive tour of the best of Scandinavian design. . . . This book is a new treasure for my design library, one I will refer to over and over." ~ Bunny Williams "A sophisticated volume . . . an in-depth, intelligent, and informative look at the design sensibilities found in Scandinavian domestic furniture and decoration. . . . Lars Bolander surveys all of this with his keen . . . eye and finely honed historical knowledge, and the results are breathtaking." ~ Martha Stewart "From his captivating shops in New York and Palm Beach, Lars Bolander has won an army of converts to his seductive vision of Scandinavian design, antique and modern, rustic and urbane. In this book, he brings that world of style vividly to life with images of some of the most magical and inspiring environments to be found there, from the light-dappled elegance of Gustavian interiors to the inventive purity of the very best in contemporary architecture." ~ Hamish Bowles "Lars Bolander's handsome and intelligent book tells the story of Scandinavian design and its influence--in the past, in the present, and leading into the twenty-first century. A product of a northern world separated to a great extent from Europe, Scandinavian design looked to the styles of the French court in the eighteenth century, but developed its own style with an adaptive simplicity that has given it a place unto itself in the history of design, as beautifully visualized on the pages of this book." ~ David Easton "Lars has the magic formula for combining the sophisticated Gustavian style with the rustic charm of the Scandinavian countryside. Just perfect!" ~ Juan Pablo Molyneux "He creates both classic and new looks, as well as bringing the traditional pieces into the 20th century (which I love)!" ~ MadebyGirl "Lars Bolander is the go-to person for Scandinavian decor in America." ~Veranda "It's total design porn at its finest." ~ Everything LEB "Gorgeous." ~ Annechovie "A visual delight." ~ Swedish Interiors by Eleish van Breems "A lovely read and must-have reference and inspiration guide for any design library." ~ Hampton Hostess "One you'll want to add to your library." ~ From the Right Bank "Wonderful." ~ Rita Konig (interview with A Lovely Being) ~
Scandinavian Style by
From IKEA home furnishings to Eero Saanin's TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York, the natural and simple lines, attention to detail, and concern for the environment that characterize the Scandinavian look have left their mark on both our popular culture and our structural design. This full-color introduction to one of Europe's most influential styles includes silver jewelry-from Georg Jensen to the best young silversmiths-the Egg chair and the Swan sofa, the finest glassware and ceramics, vintage Volvos, state-of-the-art Saabs, and the cutting edge of graphic design. The innovative and practical ideas are inspiring examples of form that perfectly follows function.
To find books on Scandiavian architecture and interior design, try the following subject headings:
Sample titles:
Scandinavian Country by
A noted interior design editor joinsHouse Beautifulin showcasing the purest, most appealing expressions of this classic yet understated style. ;iiScandinavian Country marries the most exciting elements of contemporary style with an appreciation of the pristine, inviting land that gave them birth.290 full-color illustrations. From the Trade Paperback edition.
Classical Swedish Architecture and Interiors 1650 To 1830 by
Overshadowed by the high-profile splendors of Italy and France, and studied and chronicled almost entirely in Swedish, Sweden's majestic palaces, stately manor houses, and tapestry-like gardens have seemed as remote as the Nordic country itself. On the pages of Classical Swedish Architecture and Interiors 1650-1840, meet such pathbreakers as Nicodemus Tessin the Younger and Carl H?rleman and the ambitious, discerning monarchs and aristocrats who commissioned their work. Learn how Sweden's architects and designers mined antique and contemporary southern Europe for styles, techniques, and even artisans; how such marvels as the Royal Palace in Stockholm, Drottningholm, and King Gustav III's beloved Haga took shape and acquired their uniquely Swedish stamp. Step into the rich interiors where Sweden's kings and their consorts received state visitors, stored and displayed treasures, wrote letters and studied science, and laid their heads to sleep. The path of visitors to Sweden--scholars and laymen, travelers and armchair explorers alike--will be forever changed and expanded by this book. Stops at the more familiar sites will be informed with knowledge of the who, when, why, and how of each antechamber and pavilion, while the lucid text and abundance of brilliant photographs, complementing such historical documents as engravings and architectural renderings, will open roads to rural corners and coastal retreats where Swedish royals, nobles, and privileged commoners basked in the calm of their country mansions and warmed themselves before their handsome Swedish tile stoves.
Swedish Country Interiors by
As featured in Country Living! Showcases fifteen beautiful homes that highlight the stylish interpretations of Swedish country Swedish Country Interiorsshowcases homes that have a wide spectrum of interpretations of Swedish country style--rustic, rural, urban, comfortable, family friendly, elegant, simple, complex, grand, humble, and eclectic. Also found are numerous examples of Swedish country living that the homeowners have embraced and derived inspiration from, including wall decorations, functional furnishings, natural upholstery materials, light, and indoor-outdoor living.
Swedish Interiors by
Swedish Interiors is the first book to share the history, progression, and key elements of Swedish style and how to use it in many different styles of homes. From the white- and blue-hued images of the familiar Gustavian style to the gold accents and luxurious patterns found in the Swedish Baroque, Rococo, and Biedermeier periods, the secret to Swedish design is in having the confidence to mix old and new while maintaining a clean and simple aesthetic. Emphasizes light, comfort and elegance.
The Swedish Country House by
Swedish country houses are one of Europe's best-kept secrets. Little known outside Sweden and rarely published, they survive in surprisingly large numbers, often with their original furniture and decoration. Twenty of these remarkable and timeless houses are examined here in detail, ranging from royal palaces to farmhouses, all dating from the fifteenth century to the end of the nineteenth century. In spite of being far from the centers of power and artistic influence, these houses reflect the talents of important architects and designers who together forged a distinctive national style. Sweden has been fortunate in its history: while the Hundred Years War reduced much of Europe to ruins, Sweden grew rich, and during the subsequent centuries has enjoyed almost continuous peace. The story of Swedish country houses is thus a mirror of Swedish social history, its hierarchy of classes, its absorption of European styles and movements, and above all its enduring culture. The Swedish Country House is both an important contribution to design history and a highly seductive glimpse into a secret Nordic world. Art historian Susanna Scherman has included examples from every level, drawing special attention to the qualities that make them unique. She and noted photographer Åke E:son Lindman explored the houses together, and together they bring them to life for the reader.
Classic Swedish Interiors by
Lars Sj?berg is one of Sweden's national treasures. He is as widely known for his encyclopaedic knowledge of Sweden's historic houses as he is for his passionate concern to preserve them. Presented here are the eight houses (and one church) that he has acquired over forty years, many of which he bought in order to save them from being demolished. They range from a miniature Baroque manor house to an imposing Italianate Neoclassical villa, from a late 17th-century aristocratic mansion to the two-room dwellings of early 19th-century smelting workers. Each house tells a story giving an insight into why it was built and how it changed with succeeding generations. Each has been lovingly photographed by Ingalill Snitt. Text and pictures combine to show how the appealing style that has come to be recognized as quintessentially Swedish developed from its roots in the late 17th century to flower in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Here are the pale wood floors and muslin curtains, the elegant Gustavian furniture, the gleaming gilded mirrors, the charming painted wall decorations and the simple sprigged or striped fabrics, used in entirely authentic interiors. An art historian and a museum curator, Sjoberg is also a superb self-taught craftsman who believes ardently in the value of learning from the past to preserve the future. His principles are borne out by the meticulous way in which he has restored and conserved his houses. His first and most complex undertaking was the manor of Regnaholm. Built in the 1770s, redecorated in the early years of the 19th century and unoccupied for about forty years when he took it on in 1966, it allowed him to experiment with interior decoration and refurnishing. He has built on this knowledge over the decades, reproducing furniture, having fabrics rewoven and reprinted and lighting and even porcelain copied. This book is a ravishingly beautiful, deeply personal summary of everything Lars Sj?berg has learnt in his years of working and living with classic Swedish interiors.
The Swedish Room by
Each picture in this book could stand alone as a work of art - a testament to Sweden's innate sense of style. Period by period, house by house, breathtaking images and elegantly authoritative text focus on those special features of the traditional Swedish room that have made it one of the major influences on decorating today.
Country Houses of Sweden by
This work depicts the castles and country houses of Sweden in text, poetry and photographs. It features a castle filled with family treasures, and the house in which Astrid Lindgren, creator of Pippi Longstocking, was born.
