Marit Törnqvist


Marit Törnqvist is a Swedish-Dutch author, artist and illustrator. She was best known for her illustrations in the books of Astrid Lindgren.

Life and career

Marit Törnqvist is the daughter of Egil Törnqvist, a professor of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Amsterdam and an academic literary critic. Her mother is author and illustrator Rita Törnqvist Verschuur.
Törnqvist moved to the Netherlands at the age of five, where she still lives today. Her mother translated the books of Astrid Lindgren into Dutch. Thus, Törnqvist grew up with Lindgren's literature.
From 1982 to 1987 Törnqvist went to the Gerrit Rietveld Academy in Amsterdam. In 1989 Marit Törnqvist illustrated her first book The Christmas Carp with her mother. They created it after a visit to Prague during the Christmas season.
At the same time Törnqvist applied in Sweden as an illustrator for some books by Astrid Lindgren. Later she illustrated her first Lindgren book När Bäckhultarn for till stan. She soon worked closely with the Swedish author and did some other illustrations for her.
In 1995, Törnqvist wrote and illustrated the book A Little Love Story. In 1996, it was awarded with the Dutch literary prize Zilveren Griffel.
Törnqvist has two daughters. She professionally and privately supports refugees.

Works (selection)

As an illustrator

Illustrated Astrid Lindgren books

Awards

Boekenpauw