Johan Ahlbäck’s Studio

Johan Ahlbäck has been called “the painter of labor” because he often depicted manual workers fully engaged in their tasks. However, he also painted many other subjects that secured his place among the great artists in history.
 

Johan Ahlbäck was born in Smedjebacken in 1895. Like most children at that time, he was expected to follow in his father’s footsteps. At just eight years old, he began working at the rolling mill. The youngest workers were at the bottom of the hierarchy, and he quickly learned to see himself as inferior—roots of self-perception that never left him.
The work was grueling, and accidents were frequent, such as when someone was scalded by molten iron or crushed to death by machinery. These tragedies etched themselves into his memory, and to cope, he began sketching from memory the scenes he witnessed.
 

He couldn’t afford painting supplies, so instead, he used the chalk lying near the iron scale in the rolling mill. Becoming an artist was not something he had considered.
By chance, at the age of 24, a well-known professor saw his work and encouraged him to apply to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. Summoning his courage, Johan quit his job and went to Stockholm. But there, no one appreciated his bold depictions of workers. His hopes were dashed when he was not admitted. Returning to Smedjebacken felt like too great a failure, so he found a painting school where admission was easier. After completing it, he applied again to the Royal Academy—and this time, he was accepted.
 

Johan Ahlbäck was older than his fellow students, and through years of independently capturing his observations, he had already developed his own artistic style. In Stockholm, he held a few exhibitions that gained attention, and he sold some of his paintings. Yet, he longed to return to Smedjebacken. There, he found his inspiration and subjects for his art.
In 1931, he returned to his hometown, but he was not as warmly received as he had hoped. At first, his former coworkers showed little interest in his art. To them, life at the ironworks was a reality they wanted to escape, not see immortalized in paintings.
It wasn’t until art historian Sixten Rönnow wrote an article about him in *Metallarbetaren* (The Metalworker) in 1937 that his coworkers recognized his exceptional talent as an artist.
 

A few years later, he met his future partner, Svea Morin. Her optimism influenced him, and his paintings became brighter.
 

For several years in Smedjebacken, Johan led his own art circles, teaching many students. In 1950, he gained access to his own studio, which significantly eased his work.
 

Facts
Johan Ahlbäck’s studio remains preserved in its original condition and is open to visitors by appointment through the library. Each year, the municipality of Smedjebacken organizes Ahlbäck Days, featuring lectures and the presentation of the Ahlbäck Prize.
Studio visits can be booked via the cultural director at 0240-660 283.
Smedjebacken Municipality: 0240-66 00 00