Rabbe Enckell

Rabbe Enckell

Rabbe Arnfinn Enckell (born March 3, 1903 in Tammela , † June 17, 1974 in Helsinki ) was a Finnish-Swedish writer, poet and painter who, along with Edith Södergran , Elmer Diktonius and Gunnar Björling, is one of the leading figures of Finnish-Swedish modernism .

Life

Rabbe Enckell was born in 1903 as the son of the intellectual Karl Enckell, a professor of agriculture. He attended the high school "Svenska normallyceum" in Helsinki, which he graduated in 1921 and then studied art at the University of Helsinki . He published his first book, Dikter , in 1923. He had his first art exhibition the following year. He made many trips, especially to France and Italy, and was present at many international art exhibitions. From 1928 to 1929 he wrote for the literary magazine Quosego .

Enckell wrote often about his observations of nature. Human fate in particular became a central theme in much of his work. He was also fascinated by the ancient world, the Roman and Greek myths, which is why he wrote several pieces based on these stories. During his life he published over 40 books. His precise and clear use of language was typical.

In total, Enckell was married three times. He spent the last years of his life mainly in Porvoo . In 1974 he finally died in Helsinki. His last collection of works, Flyvende Spegel , which contained many of his travel impressions, was published posthumously.

Honors

• 1956 Bellman Prize
• 1964 Grand Prix of Samfundet De Nio
• 1967 Svenska Akademiens Finlandspris
• 1967 Tollanderska priset
• 1973 Svenska Akademiens Finlandspris

Works (selection)

• Tillblivelse .
• Ljusdunkel .
• Ett portraits .
• Landskapet med den dubbla skuggan .
• Tonbrädet .
• Herrar till natt och dag .
• Lutad över fountain .
• Andedräkt av koppar .
• Flyende level .
• Tändsticksdikter / Matchstick poems (bilingual selection, transcribed and edited by Klaus-Jürgen Liedtke , Münster 2014)

Web links

• Biography ( Memento from April 28, 2014 in the Internet Archive ) (English)