Carl Johan De Geer

In April 1967, the famous "Kalabaliken på Karlsson" occurred. At Carl Johan De Geer and his then-wife Marie-Louise's exhibition at Galleri Karlsson, two lithographic sheets and a poster by Carl Johan attracted particular attention. On one lithograph was written "Refuse Weapons". On the other, a Swedish flag was depicted, and in the centre of the cross, he had written "the cock". Above it was the text "Desecrate the Flag", "Refuse weapons", "Betray the fatherland", and "Be unnational". Additionally, the flag was burning. On the poster, he had written "USA murderers" and replaced the stars in the American flag with swastikas. When De Geer arrived at the gallery the day after the opening, he was deeply surprised. The police, having received reports that inciting art was being exhibited at the gallery, had, assisted by a locksmith, entered the gallery and seized a total of 61 sheets featuring the motifs "Refuse weapons", "Desecrate the flag", and "USA murderers". The only lithographs and posters that the police did not take were a few copies set aside in the office. A few others were also left with the artist at home. On May 8, Bo Karlsson and the artist were interrogated by the criminal police. On May 11, the police returned to the gallery to deliver further documents in the case. When they found additional copies with the same motifs during their visit, they seized those as well. In Stockholm's City Court on September 6, 1967, De Geer was sentenced to 75 daily fines of 15 kronor for insulting a national symbol, insulting a foreign national symbol, and incitement. The sentence was upheld by the Svea Court of Appeal on June 7, 1968, and subsequently went to the Supreme Court, where the case was never taken up. De Geer requested to keep the graphic sheets but received the following notice from His Majesty the King: "The lithographs are of such a nature that they shall be confiscated to prevent further criminality." The sheets were consequently burned by the police.