A life in Norrby Lemland

Joel Pettersson lived most of his days on the Åland Islands in Finland. He was born into a family of peasants in Norrby, Lemland. His father worked as a driver and a self-taught vet, while his mother tended to the farm. Life was tied to the land and the heavy responsibilities of small-scale farming, a role Joel took over despite having little interest in the work. He spent much of his time writing and painting, often finding himself at odds with the demands of the family property.

In the years between 1913 and 1915, he studied at the drawing school Åbo Ritskola in Turku. There, he learned under the direction of Victor Westerholm. He did not stay in the city for long, choosing instead to return to the familiarity of Åland. This period of study helped shape his hand, though he often felt a disconnect between the formal training of the city and the rural reality of his home. He eventually turned his focus toward local youth organizations, where he created sets, costumes, and even marionette dolls for plays.

The brush and the pen

His work was split between the visual and the written word. As a painter, he often used oil on cardboard to capture scenes of the islands. His style leaned toward expressionism, focusing on the textures of his surroundings. He painted landscapes, such as autumn views featuring the Lemland church, and even worked on self-portraits. There was a certain raw quality to his method, especially during the later years when he used an empty henhouse as an atelier.

The writing was just as present in his daily life. He wrote prose, poems, and plays that utilized the local dialect rather than formal Swedish. Many of these pieces remained unpublished for decades after he passed away. His stories often looked at the people of his village with a sense of irony or a quiet, heavy sadness. Some of his written works included:

• Jag har ju sett
• Eldtände
• Frifågel
• Hallonskogen

Difficulties and later years

Economic struggles and the weight of his responsibilities left a mark on his health. After the death of his parents in 1928, he was left to manage the farm alone. He attempted various ventures, including raising hens, but these efforts did not provide the stability he needed. A period of intense difficulty followed a failed experiment with poultry farming, leading to a mental breakdown. In 1936, some of his paintings were shown in an exhibition in Mariehamn, where observers noted the strength and life in his work.

The end of his life was spent in Grelsby Asylum, where he remained until his death in January 1937. Though he lived much of his life as an obscure figure, his reputation changed long after he was gone. In the 1970s, editors began to bring his writings back to light, and he became recognized for the unique perspective he brought to the culture of the Åland Islands.