Johan Tirén (1853-1911) was a distinguished Swedish painter known for his genre paintings with evocative depictions of rural life in Northern Sweden. Born the elder brother of fellow artist Karl Tirén, Johan moved with his family to Oviken in Jämtland when he was seven, where his father assumed the role of Vicar.
Johan initially pursued his education at the Tekniska skolan in Stockholm before advancing to the Royal Swedish Academy of Fine Arts from 1877 to 1880. During his time at the Academy, he earned a Royal Medal in 1880 for his painting “Loki Imprisoned by Æsir.” His work “A Jämtland Legend,” which featured his classmate Anders Zorn as the model for the näck (water spirit), garnered significant public attention when displayed at the Academy.
