Soderberg - Yngve

Soderberg, Yngve E. (1896-1972)

Yngve Soderberg was born in Chicago, Illinois in 1896. He may have studied at the Art Institute of Chicago. When he came east he studied at the Art Students’ League in New York City on a one year scholarship. He also traveled in Europe to study art for one year. He eventually settled in Mystic, Connecticut and remained there for the rest of his life. Soderberg’s subjects were the figure, human activity, and history; but the majority of his work was of yachting, fishing, and skiing. He painted mainly in watercolor, etched, and made prints. He was a member of the Mystic Art Association, the Chicago Etchers’ Society, and the American Etchers Society. Soderberg won prizes for his etchings and exhibited widely. He was a New Deal artist and painted the mural Canal Era at the Morrisville Post Office in Pennsylvania. He worked for the Connecticut Federal Arts Project from 1940-1941, producing around 58 watercolors. In addition to his art, Soderberg taught art at the New London High School and wrote the instructional book, Drawing Boats and Ships, originally published in 1959. Soderberg died in Mystic, Connecticut in 1972.

Sources: WPA Artist’s Work Card; WPA Biography; AskART; Who Was Who in American Art [1985], 582; Fielding’s Dictionary of American Painters [1987], 875; Hartford Courant: “Art Department Plans School Cafeteria Murals,” February 15, 1953; “Chief Plans No change in Job Test,” February 23, 1964; “Death Took These Prominent State Residents in 1972,” January 1, 1973; New York Times: “Water-Color Show Opens Wednesday,” April 16, 1934; Howard Devree, “A Round of Galleries,” April 22, 1934; Edward Alden Jewell, “Fifty Prints Show Has Opening Today,” May 2, 1934; “Spectator Craft Ready for A Stay,” September 21, 1934; “Nancy S. Horn Has Bridal,” October 7, 1934; Howard Devree, “A Round of Galleries,” “Artists Aid War in Factory Jobs,” February 5, 1943; “Etchers Hold Exhibition,” October 17, 1945; Howard Devree, “Our Prints and Bresdin,” October 21, 1945; “In Brief,” December 24, 1950; “Downhill Skiers Drypoint Etching, Y. E. Soderberg, 1935,” George Glazer Gallery.

Works of Art Listed in CT Archives’ database from Yngve Soderberg:

Soderberg, Yngve