Interesting Icelander for May 2025
- Brian Borgford
- 4 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Brian Borgford
Welcome to our Interesting Icelander series for 2025 with a focus on Icelandic Art and Culture. Our May profile explores the life and legacy of Einar Jónsson (May 1874–Oct 1954).
Iceland does not have a long history of sculpture as an art form. Einar Jónsson (I145021) was a pioneer in Icelandic sculpture, having shown his artistic interests from an early age. He ultimately left an indelible mark on the world of art.
Einar was born to a farm family in Árnessýsla in 1874, and as a teenager, he moved to Reykjavik to further his education where he displayed his artistic inclinations. In 1893, still not 20 years of age, Einar travelled to Copenhagen to study sculpture. This move exposed him to the broader European art scene. While exploring various mediums of sculpture with renowned artists such as Wilhelm Bissen and Theobald Stein, Einar created a marble sculpture he called “Boy at Prayer.”
Einar sent this sculpture, "Boy at Prayer", along with a grant application to Althingi in Reykjavik. The parliament approved Einar’s application and supplied him with a funds to study at the Royal Academy of Arts in Copenhagen, where he studied from 1896 to 1899. This propelled him to a career as a sculptor, a rare occurrence at the time. His sculpture “Outlaws,” based on Icelandic folklore, displayed at an exhibition in Copenhagen in 1901, was instrumental in establishing him as an accomplished artist.
Althingi provided Einar with additional grants to allow him to move to Rome in 1902 to continue his evolution as an artist where he produced many notable works that were shown at art exhibitions in Europe. By 1909 Einar had produced a sizeable inventory of sculptures that he gifted to the nation of Iceland. The Icelandic National Treasury, in return, provided Einar with a home in Reykjavik.
Einar wrote that the role of art is something universal and spiritual. He became increasingly critical of the classical art tradition which he felt stifled creativity and originality. His work and philosophy drew criticism from fellow artists. Much of his work reflected his emerging theological thoughts and included paintings such as “Angel of Light.”
Some of his sculptures also began to show a theological theme, such as “The Crucible” and “Development.”
Einar’s reverence for and connection to his Icelandic heritage is reflected in his work. Residents of and visitors to Reykjavik will recognize Einar’s monument to the leader of the Icelandic independence movement, Jon Sigurdson. This statue has stood majestically on the grounds of the Icelandic Parliament buildings since 1911.
Einar was commissioned to erect this and other monuments to significant Icelanders such as poet Jonas Hallgrimsson.
In 1921, a group of Manitoba Icelanders arranged for Einar to cast a duplicate monument to Jon Sigurdsson which stands on the grounds of the Manitoba Legislature.
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Einar received another commission to create a statue of Icelandic explorer Þorfinnur Karlsefni for display in Philadelphia. In 1917, Einar and his new bride, Anna María Jörgensen Jónsson, travelled to Philadelphia where he completed this work, which was unveiled in 1920.*
The Einar Jonsson Sculpture Museum, opened in the heart of Reykjavik in 1924, was the first standalone public museum in Iceland. The museum contains hundreds of Einar’s works of art.
Einar spent his final years in Iceland, producing works of art until the year of his death. He lived to the age of eighty years, passing away in Reykjavik on October 18, 1954. Einar was laid to rest in a cemetery located in his birth district of Árnessýsla. His wife, Anna, who was with him until his death, lived another 20 years, passing away in 1975 at the age of 90 years.
Editor's Note: Sadly, the Þorfinnur Karlsefn statue was vandalized and pushed into the Schuylkill River in 2018, nearly 100 years after being erected. It was rescued but remains in storage. (https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/thorfinn-karlsefni-statue-schuylkill-river/191603/)
Sources:
“Einar Jónsson” in Wikipedia [website]. Last updated 11 Apr 2024. Retrieved from
“Historic Sites of Manitoba: Jon Sigurdsson Statue (450 Broadway, Winnipeg).” in Manitoba Historical Society Archives [website]. Last updated 20 Feb 2021. Retrieved from
Listasafn Einars Jónssonar / The Einar Jónsson Museum [website]. Retrieved from: