Why was Tove Jansson so often portrayed wearing a flower wreath? The answer lies in a magical encounter between her and one of Sweden’s most famous portrait photographers, Hans Gedda.

The year was 1967, it was early spring and photographer Hans Gedda was about to photograph Tove Jansson. Gedda was young and a little nervous. Despite his nervousness, the meeting with Tove Jansson resulted in a fantastic portrait, which was last exhibited at Fotografiska in Stockholm in 2023. 

Hans Gedda became one of Sweden’s most famous photographers. He has portrayed many of the most iconic persons in modern history, such as Nelson Mandela, Andy Warhol and countless other international stars of politics and popular culture.    

The portrait of Tove Jansson was to be included in a midsummer issue of the magazine Böckernas Värld, and Gedda thought that a wreath of flowers would have been appropriate for the photo shoot. The early spring in Helsinki did not offer wild flowers, but Tove arranged a wreath, which, like Gedda’s photograph, also became immortal. 

A birthday tradition

The flower wreath lived on in the Jansson family for a long time after the photograph was taken. Tove Jansson used to wear the wreath on her birthday, 9 August, which was usually celebrated on the island of Klovharun in the Pellinge archipelago. The wreath became something of a travelling party object, which was lent to family members and friends celebrating birthdays in the archipelago. Read more about Tove Jansson’s birthday celebrations.

The fact that Hans Gedda suggested a flower wreath for the photo shoot is linked to the Nordic tradition of tying and wearing flower wreaths as part of Midsummer celebrations. Midsummer celebrations in Finland and the Nordic countries are based on a pre-Christian tradition of celebrating the summer solstice. The tradition of tying flower wreaths for Midsummer also dates back to pre-Christian times. 

Illustrated wreaths

Tove Jansson drew several wreaths illustrated with Moomins. The wreaths have been illustrated for various purposes, such as stationery, envelopes and record covers, as well as for book covers and inside books, where they have served, among other things, to frame a page where the owner of the book could write his name. Read more about Tove Jansson’s illustrated wreaths. 

Colour your own flower wreath!

Here you will find two variants of wreaths to print out and colour – one with the Moomin family, and one with quotes from Finn Family Moomintrioll.