Oct 26, 2015
Karin Boye’s 115th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Karin Boye was a sensitive Swedish poet. An idealist at heart, she imagined the best of what humanity could offer, but was observant of the grey realities that hold us back. She lived in disastrous times, pre-World War II. But in the face of darkness, she wrote: Clouds, Hidden Lands, and Yes, of course it hurts.
Today’s animated doodle by Olivia When is adapted from one of Boye’s best known works "Yes, of course it hurts," describing the inevitable pain of change. While melancholy in tone, her optimism shines through. The branches and buds outside persist, in spite of the seasons, while Boye writes. Several earlier drafts (below) explored the metaphor of a tree changing throughout the year, but the lighting in this final version seemed to best match the mood of Boye’s words.
Early sketches by Olivia When
Where this Doodle appeared
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