Anna Bergfeldt

I am employed as a doctoral researcher in Art History at Åbo Akademi University since 2023. My ongoing thesis project "Elsa Gullberg, Astrid Sampe and the textiles of the modern Swedish home 1930–1960", aims at elucidating the significance of textiles in the design of the modern Swedish home. I examine the design of domestic textiles of the inter- and afterwar era, with the two textile designers Elsa Gullberg (1886–1984) and Astrid Sampe (1909–2002) and their workshops as case studies.

I hold a master's degree in Art History from Uppsala University in Sweden and also have a background as a museum professional.

My doctoral thesis deals with questions regarding the production and consumption of textiles and the mediation of ideas about tradition and modernity through textile design. Another central theme is the symbolic triad of textiles, women and the home, and the place of this triad in modern society.

I investigate textiles as important parts of the physical-aesthetic design of the dwelling, but also as central components in the everyday life of the home. My research interest therefore includes both interior textiles such as carpets and curtains and household textiles such as towels and napkins.

I am also interested in the mechanisms behind the marginalisation of textiles in the writing of design history. I use perspectives from design theory and Material Culture Studies to broaden the image of textiles as a design genre, with special emphasis on material aspects.

The “modern home” of the thesis’ title, is to be understood both as a physical space and as an ideological concept of high relevance in mid-20^th century Sweden. The premise for my study is that domestic textile design and culture offer a unique interface for an analysis of this idea and its materiality.

I teach on bachelor's level. Since 2024, I am responsible for a basic course on Western art history entitled "Art and faith".