Tomas Tranströmer

Tomas Tranströmer (1931–2015) was one of the foremost Swedish lyricists in the post-war period. He is counted among the so-called fifties poets and with his acclaimed debut collection 17 poems, Tranströmer reintroduced bound verse. In his poems, he uses ancient verse meter, but his style can still be described as genuinely Swedish as he is supreme in his visions of inner and outer coldness and barrenness. His style is often described as everyday but with the mystical present, conveyed with elements of nature lyricism. Tranströmer's poems have been translated into some sixty languages and are read worldwide. In 2011, Tranströmer was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature with the justification: "because he, in condensed, translucent images, gives us new access to reality". Industrial designer Jan Landqvist is responsible for the idea and design of the series »Swedish literature support«, Landqvist has many years of professional experience from Gustavsberg's factories and has designed everything from porcelain for bathrooms to giftware and plastic products. The bookends are made in Gnosjö, Sweden and are made of cut and bent sheet steel that has been treated with a black, durable powder coating. The dimensions are 15x15 centimeters for the portraits and 10x15 centimeters for the base plate. Designer: Landqvist, Jan