New auction record for works on paper by Tove Jansson

In recent years, Bukowskis has achieved auction records and high final prices for paintings by Tove Jansson, including "Ateljéns fönster" in Finland and "Vila" in Sweden. During the latest edition of the Important Winter Sale, a new auction record was also set for a work on paper by Tove Jansson when "On the Way" was sold for multiple times its estimate.

The work "On the Way" was a gift from Tove Jansson to the Finnish-Swedish author, playwright, and screenwriter Walentin Chorell. Tove Jansson and Walentin Chorell were colleagues and friends through the Finnish-Swedish Writers' Association. Around 1955, Walentin told Tove that his daughter was part of a scout patrol with five other friends, and they had chosen a character and name from the Moomin world. When Tove heard about this, the group was invited to visit her studio in Helsinki. This visit led to the auctioned painting, where Tove Jansson had written the names of the scout members.

The work, an ink and watercolour on paper, was offered with an estimate of 250,000 SEK and sparked lively bidding. The final price reached 2,252,500 SEK, setting a new auction record for a work on paper by Tove Jansson.