Helmer Masolle

Helmer MasOlle (1884-1969) was born in Siljansnäs, a few miles from Älvdalen. MasOlle was a painter and designer with an interest in cars. He portrayed a large number of famous Swedes, but it is less well known that he was also a prominent industrial designer.
Volvo founders Gustaf Larson and Assar Gabrielsson wanted to build a Swedish car. In Dalarna, they found the car-loving artist Helmer MasOlle and he was commissioned to design the body of the first Volvo car ÖV4 in 1927. ÖV means open carriage. The cost of the car was SEK 4800 and sales were slow. Only 297 cars were sold in the first year 1927. MasOlle also designed the still-classic Volvo emblem that can still is found on the front of all Volvo cars: a slanted diagonal and the symbol for iron, also known as the Mars sign. It symbolised Swedish expertise, quality and Swedish steel.

In the current painting, MasOlle has painted the view to the north from Storbrott, Älvdalen, not far from his home, MasOlle's Gammelgård in Siljansnäs.