Karitas Untitled

Karitas Jónsdóttir is a portrait of an artist trapped by convention and expectations but longing for the chaos that can set her free. She is pulled back by design and chance to the Icelandic countryside, struggling to thrive and be what she was meant to be.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 447 pages
Publication date: 01 March 2022
Publisher: Amazon Publishing

Growing up on a farm in early twentieth-century rural Iceland, Karitas Jónsdóttir, one of six siblings, yearns for a new life. An artist, Karitas has a powerful calling and is determined to never let go of her true being, one unsuited for the conventional. But she is powerless against the fateful turns of real life and all its expectations of women. Pulled back time and again by design and by chance to the Icelandic countryside—as dutiful daughter, loving mother, and fisherman's wife—she struggles to thrive, to be what she was meant to be.

Spanning decades and set against a breathtaking historical canvas, Karitas Untitled, an award-winning classic of Icelandic literature, is a complex and immersive portrait of an artist's conflict with love, family, nature, and a country unaccustomed to an untraditional woman—but most of all, with herself and the creative instincts she has no choice but to follow.

Born in 1874 in a small village in southern Iceland, Karitas was the youngest child of a farmer and his wife. Despite her upbringing in a traditional rural community, Karitas was always drawn to the arts. From a young age, she spent hours drawing and painting, and she dreamed of becoming a professional artist. However, her parents were not supportive of her artistic ambitions. They believed that women should focus on their domestic responsibilities and that pursuing a career in the arts was not a viable option for them.

Despite her parents' objections, Karitas continued to pursue her passion for art. She attended art school in Reykjavik, where she studied painting and drawing. However, her studies were cut short when she married a fisherman named Jón Jónsdóttir in 1893. Jón was a hardworking and dedicated man, but he was also a strict and controlling husband. He did not approve of Karitas' artistic pursuits and often discouraged her from continuing to paint and draw.

Despite Jón's disapproval, Karitas continued to pursue her artistic dreams. She spent hours in her studio, creating paintings and drawings that reflected her love for the natural world and her longing for freedom. However, her work was often met with criticism and rejection from the art community in Iceland. Many people believed that Karitas' work was too unconventional and that it did not conform to the traditional Icelandic aesthetic.

Despite the criticism and rejection, Karitas refused to give up on her artistic ambitions. She continued to create art, even when it seemed like there was no hope for her career. She exhibited her work in small galleries and museums in Iceland, and she received some critical acclaim for her work. However, her success was always fleeting, and she was never able to make a living from her art.

As the years went by, Karitas' marriage to Jón began to deteriorate. Jón was increasingly abusive and controlling, and he often beat Karitas for her artistic pursuits. Karitas was forced to hide her art from Jón, and she was unable to create any new work. She became increasingly isolated and depressed, and she felt like her life had no purpose.

Despite the hardships she faced, Karitas never gave up on her artistic dreams. She continued to draw and paint, even when it seemed like there was no point in doing so. She found solace in her art, and it became a way for her to express her pain and frustration.

In 1921, Karitas' life took a turn for the better when she met a young artist named Ásgeir Ásgeirsson. Ásgeir was a talented and ambitious artist, and he was immediately drawn to Karitas' work. He encouraged her to continue to create art, and he helped her to exhibit her work in galleries and museums in Iceland.

Karitas' work began to gain recognition, and she began to receive critical acclaim for her work. She was invited to exhibit her work in galleries and museums in Europe, and she was even awarded a prestigious art prize. However, her success was still fleeting, and she was never able to make a living from her art.

Despite the setbacks and disappointments, Karitas never gave up on her artistic dreams. She continued to create art, even when it seemed like there was no point in doing so. She found solace in her art, and it became a way for her to express her pain and frustration.

In 1939, Karitas' life took a tragic turn when she was diagnosed with cancer. She was given only a few months to live, and she knew that her time was running out. She spent her final months in her studio, creating art that reflected her love for the natural world and her longing for freedom.

Karitas' work was widely exhibited in galleries and museums in Iceland and Europe, and it was praised for its beauty and its emotional depth. However, her death was a devastating loss to the art community in Iceland, and many people mourned her loss.

Karitas Jónsdóttir was a talented and ambitious artist who faced many challenges throughout her life. She was trapped by convention and expectations, but she never gave up on her artistic dreams. Her work was a testament to her courage and her determination, and it will continue to inspire and inspire artists for generations to come.

In conclusion, Karitas Jónsdóttir was a talented and ambitious artist who faced many challenges throughout her life. She was trapped by convention and expectations, but she never gave up on her artistic dreams. Her work was a testament to her courage and her determination, and it will continue to inspire and inspire artists for generations to come.

ISBN-13: 9781542027083