Dalecarlian Culture

Dalecarlia has a very rich culture, both currently and historically. World-famous artists like Carl and Karin Larsson, Anders and Emma Zorn have painted everyday life in Dalecarlia in their work.
Carl Larsson’s well-known series of pictures ‘A Home in Dalecarlia’, inspired by his own life at Sundborn farm, made him and the life in Dalecarlia known around the world.
Anders Zorn’s beautiful paintings of dalkullor (Dalecarlian women) are counted amongst some of the most sought after and expensive works of art in the world. Dalecarlian art as a genre were at its greatest at the end of the 18th century and during the 19th century. Among the dala-paintings were of significant importance the use of gourd-decorations, a form of handicraft, also used in national costumes. Some examples of early dala-painters are Jufwas Anders Ersson and Winter Carl Hansson. They were made even more famous in Sweden by the poet Erik Axel Karlfeldt (also born in the land of Dalecarlia) in his works from the early 20th century.
There are also books written about life in Dalecarlia, among others Jerusalem written by Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf. The story follows a group of people living in Dalecarlia for generations. It has also been made into film several times, most recently in 1996 by the famous director Bille August.

Dalecarlia is also the home of lots of well-known and talented Swedish musicians and artists, such as Mando Diao, Miss Li, Marit Bergman and Orsa Spelmän, who has collaborated with former ABBA-member Benny Andersson. The world-renowned opera singer Jussi Björling is born here as well.
In Dalecarlia, there are organizations that work actively to keep and preserve the old and rich traditions for future generations. Traditions like the making of the beautiful national costumes and the art of handicraft of the region.