Ragnar von Holten

Ragnar von Holten (born 12 March 1934 in Gleiwitz,[1] Silesia; died 26 September 2009 in Stockholm) was a Swedish art historian, painter, printmaker, book illustrator and museum curator.

He traveled for many years between Stockholm and Paris, and he became a link between French and Swedish surrealists.

While he spent time in Stockholm with artists such as Eric Grate, Endre Nemes, Gösta Kriland, Öyvind Fahlström and Thea Ekström.

In 1965 he defended his thesis on Gustave Moreau, and in 1969 he published his most famous book, Surrealism in Swedish art, regarded as a standard work.

After his death, von Holten's art collection was donated to the Art Academy, and proceeds from sales became the nucleus for the Ragnar von Holten Memorial Fund, which would award scholarships to promising artists.