Marit Törnqvist
Marit Törnqvist (born January 19, 1964) is a Swedish-Dutch author, artist and illustrator. She was best known for her illustrations in the books of Astrid Lindgren.
Life and career
Marit Törnqvist is the daughter of Egil Törnqvist, a professor of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Amsterdam and an academic literary critic. Her mother is author and illustrator Rita Törnqvist Verschuur.
Törnqvist moved to the Netherlands at the age of five,[1] where she still lives today.[2] Her mother translated the books of Astrid Lindgren into Dutch. Thus, Törnqvist grew up with Lindgren's literature.
From 1982 to 1987 Törnqvist went to the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam.[3] In 1989 Marit Törnqvist illustrated her first book The Christmas Carp (Swedish: Julkarpen) with her mother. They created it after a visit to Prague during the Christmas season.[4]
At the same time Törnqvist applied in Sweden as an illustrator for some books by Astrid Lindgren. Later she illustrated her first Lindgren book När Bäckhultarn for till stan.[5] She soon worked closely with the Swedish author and did some other illustrations for her.[6]
In 1995, Törnqvist wrote and illustrated the book A Little Love Story (Swedish: Liten berättelse om kärlek). In 1996, it was awarded with the Dutch literary prize Zilveren Griffel.[7]
Törnqvist has two daughters.[8] She professionally and privately supports refugees.[9]
Works (selection)
As an illustrator
Illustrated Astrid Lindgren books
- A Calf for Christmas (När Bäckhultarn for till stan, 1989)
- The Day Adam Got Mad (När Adam Engelbrekt blev tvärarg, 1991)
- In the Land of Twilight (I skymningslandet, 1994)
- The Red Bird (Sunnanäng, 2003)[10]
- The Story Journey From Junedale to Nangilima (Sagoresan, 2006)
- Alla ska sova (2019)
Further works
- The Christmas Carp (Julkarpen, 1989, together with her mother Rita Törnqvist Verschuur)
- Bigger than a dream (Större än en dröm, 2013, author: Jef Aerts)
- Jij bent de herrste (2014, authors: Hans Hagen and Monique Hagen)
- Helden op sokken (1988, author: Annie Keuper-Makkink)
- Een verhaal voor Hizzel (1994, author: Klaas van Assen)
As an author
- A Little Love Story (Liten berättelse om kärlek, 1995)[11]
- Charlie's Magical Carnival (2018)
Awards and nominations
References
- "Swedish illustrator Marit Törnqvist joins Iranian artists for Tehran showcase".
- Matilda Nilsson. "Uppsala är mer än Pelle Svanslös".
- "Illustratrice Marit Törnqvist geeft workshop voor kinderen".
- "Marit & Rita Törnqvist, 'Thomas en de kerstkarper'. Stemmig kerstverhaal in woord en beeld".
- Annemieke van Dongen. "'Het paard van Pippi Langkous werd gedrogeerd'".
- "Het onbekende verhaal van Astrid Lindgren".
- "Törnqvist, Marit".
- "Gevlucht uit Afghanistan, nu verstopt bij een Zweeds gezin".
- "Een boek voor jou".
- Swantje Thiele. "Lindgren, Astrid: Sonnenau".
- "Eine kleine Liebesgeschichte".
- Eline Lohman. "Marit Törnqvist komt naar Zwijndrecht".
- "Annet Schaap en Marit Törnqvist winnaars op Boekenbeurs".
- "Pressler und Berner in der Endrunde".