The painting that made Johan Per (Per) Sodermark famous is Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery (1848); it hangs in the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. Portrait of Werner Holmberg (1853) and Christoffer Eichhorn (1837-1889), librarian, art historian (1889) follow it in the hearts of collectors and museum visitors. Of the 3 works by Johan Per (Per) Sodermark in our catalogue, these 3 are the most admired, each presented with its date, its museum and what sets it apart.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026. Every masterpiece on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, at the size you choose.
The 2 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by Johan Per (Per) Sodermark | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Nationalmuseum |
Stockholm | 2 | Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery, Christoffer Eichhorn (1837-1889), librarian, art historian |
 Finnish National Gallery |
Helsinki | 1 | Portrait of Werner Holmberg |
Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery (1848), Nationalmuseum, Stockholm. Next come Portrait of Werner Holmberg (1853) and Christoffer Eichhorn (1837-1889), librarian, art historian (1889).
26 years old: Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery dates from 1848 and Johan Per (Per) Sodermark was born in 1822.
Our catalogue lists 3 works by Johan Per (Per) Sodermark, dated from 1848 to 1889.
Most of them are in Nationalmuseum (Stockholm) and Finnish National Gallery (Helsinki). The table above lists the museums one by one.
The earliest on this page is Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery (1848), the latest Christoffer Eichhorn (1837-1889), librarian, art historian (1889).
Karl Jakob Johannes Lindhagen (1817-1857), chief physician at Pro Patria, battalion physician, medical doctor, Ph.D. in surgery and Christoffer Eichhorn (1837-1889), librarian, art historian are among the 2 works on this page held by the Nationalmuseum, Stockholm.
Yes. Every painting on this page can be ordered as a museum-quality, hand-painted oil reproduction or a fine art print, in the size you choose, from the painting's own page.
Johan Per Södermark stands at a crossroads between military duty and the fine arts. Born in Mossebro, Karlsborg Municipality, on 5 June 1822, his early life follows the disciplined path of his father, Olof Johan Södermark. He enters the military as an Underlöjtnant in 1843, a role that demands precision and observation. The rigidity of service defines his youth, yet the brush remains present. His training begins under his father's guidance before moving to the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts, where he achieves the status of agré in 1848.
The year 1848 brings a sudden shift. He resigns from active military service. The death of his father leaves him with more than just a memory; he inherits a studio. At first, Södermark sustains himself through the labor of copying his father's existing works. This period of imitation acts as a bridge, transitioning him from a man of arms to a man of lithography and paint.
Movement defines his artistic development. He moves through the cultural landscapes of Europe, seeking new light and form. His path takes him to France and Italy, followed by stays in Düsseldorf between 1852 and 1854. In Paris, from 1855 to 1856, he studies under Thomas Couture. These travels expand his repertoire beyond the portraits of his early years.
His work begins to diversify into new territories:
By 1874, Södermark reaches a professional peak as a full member of the Swedish Academy. His presence is felt in major exhibitions, from Copenhagen's Charlottenborg Palace in 1851 to various Nordic Art exhibitions held between 1872 and 1888. He leaves behind a tangible contribution to Swedish collections, having donated his original lithographs to the Nationalmuseum in 1868.
His life concludes in Stockholm on 16 November 1889. While he did not pursue the same level of realistic clarity as his father, his ability to navigate between the roles of officer and artist remains a distinct chapter in Swedish art history. His works remain accessible today through institutions such as the Academy's art gallery, Waldemarsudde, and the Nordic Museum.