Viktor Bernhard "Faffan" Jansson (1 March 1886 in Helsinki – 22 June 1958 in Helsinki) was a Finnish sculptor belonging to the Swedish-speaking minority of Finland.

Early life

Jansson was born in Helsinki in 1886 to Julius Viktor Jansson and Johanna Theresia (Karlsson). His father worked at the Stockmann department store, later owning a haberdashery store. His father died when Jansson was six. He married the illustrator Signe Hammarsten-Jansson and they had three children: the writer Tove Jansson, photographer Per Olov Jansson, and Lars Jansson, an author and comic strip artist. Starting from 1929 Viktor Jansson created several drafts for sculptures picturing young women, one of which is called Convolvulus. The other sculpture from the same series named Youth (Nuoruus) is situated in Hämeenlinna. These two sculptures are united by attempt to create images of excellence and clarity through a somehow abstract form. He studied at Läroverket för gossar och flickor.

Works

The model for Kajastus, Convolvulus and Nuoruus was Tove Jansson, the daughter of the sculptor.

Sources