Quick Facts
Biography
Maria Katarina Wiik (3 August 1853 – 19 June 1928) was a Finnish painter.
Wiik was born in Helsinki as the daughter of Jean Wiik. Encouraged by her family, she studied art 1874-1875 at the Drawing School of Helsinki. In 1875, she continued her art studies in Paris under Tony Robert-Fleury at the Académie Julian from 1875 and in 1880 she became a substitute teacher at the Drawing School of Helsinki. Her early paintings accepted for the Paris Salon in 1880 were portraits. In 1881, she painted a series of small paintings with a more psychological atmosphere including minute details. In spring 1889, she returned to Paris with her friend, the painter Helene Schjerfbeck to work among others with Puvis de Chavannes. In 1883-1884, they painted in England and then in 1889 in St Ives.
Her painting Out into the World won a bronze medal at the 1900 World Exposition and was included in the 1905 book Women Painters of the World.
Wiik died in Helsinki.