Else Marie Jakobsen tapestry

This very rare wall tapestry titled “Måne – Vinter / Sol – Sommar” was designed by Norwegian artist Else Marie Jakobsen and produced in Norway in the 1970s. Executed in the traditional Scandinavian tapestry technique, the textile combines symbolic colorwork and abstracted natural motifs to explore thematic oppositions—moon and sun, winter and summer, masculinity and femininity—rendered as dynamic visual contrasts.

The composition is centered around a circular form filled with tonal gradations of light blue, white, and turquoise, symbolizing winter skies and frozen landscapes. Within and around this form are stylized snowflakes and organic shapes in ochre, olive green, ivory, and bronze tones, referencing frost, flora, and shifting seasonal elements. The surrounding field transitions into warmer hues of fuchsia, burgundy, plum, and violet, incorporating brighter accents that represent the vibrancy of summer and solar radiance. The high saturation and soft gradations give the work a strong visual rhythm, while the meticulous weaving reveals a high level of technical precision.

The tapestry is signed “EMJ” in woven letters and dated “76” in the lower corner, indicating its completion in 1976. On the verso, a hand-stitched note from the artist explains the conceptual intention of the piece: “Moon–Winter with coolness and solemness, masculinity and horizontality… Sun–Summer with warmth and sparkling colours, femininity and verticality” Jakobsen’s intention was to juxtapose, not in opposition but in complement, these dualities as expressions of a unified whole.

Else Marie Jakobsen (1927–2012) was one of Norway’s most celebrated textile artists, known for her monumental tapestries, many of which were commissioned for churches, government buildings, and international exhibitions. Her works often employed abstract symbolism with spiritual or natural themes, and she remains a central figure in Nordic textile art.

This tapestry is in excellent condition, with vivid colors, well-preserved fibers, and intact edges. It retains its original braided hanging cord and still bears its presentation note from A/S Elektrisk Bureau, Norway, documenting its provenance as a commemorative gift.

The dimensions are 202 cm in width and 170 cm in height. In imperial units, this equates to approximately 79.5 inches wide and 66.9 inches high.