Unknown in Sweden but recognized as a foremost expressionist beyond the borders, Eric Johansson was born in the German town of Dresden in the year of 1896 and became the only Swedish artist whose works were classified as “degenerated art” by the Nazis.

Even though his name sounds very Swedish, Eric Johansson grew up with German foster parents and his native language was therefore German. Dresden was an important and thriving cultural city in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, frequently visited by some of the greatest modernist artists and it was also the city to host two of the most prominent art galleries in Germany at that time. The German expressionist movement was founded in Dresden through “Die Brücke”, by...