Maalarisiskot (Finnish)

A warm-hearted comic with clear illustrations about female Finnish artists at the end of the 19th century, the golden age of visual arts in Finland. The young Helene Schjerfbeck travels to Paris, much like all other artists who kept up with the times. Her friends Helena Westermack, Maria Wiik and Ada Thilen are already studying in the city, and Helene is excited to join them. The female artists form their own community and call each other the ‘painter sisters.’ They paint diligently, have ambition and are inspired by the great movements. In Finland, this is not appreciated, and the criticism is crushing at worst.

The Painter Sisters is a story by Reetta Nimensivu of the friendship, studies, travels, love and dreams of four remarkable female artists.