Diaries

The diaries of his work

by his nephew, Michael Heybrook

Michael Heybroek, his nephew, writes: “In 1998, 15 years after Folke had died, I visited his daughter in Sweden with the aim of writing a biography of his life. Before, in 1982, when Folke was dying, he had shown me his three diaries in which he had assembled exhibition notices, press cuttings, contract letters, proposals, and descriptions of his many commissions with numerous photographs. These were all in Dutch and Swedish with which I was familiar. His daughter passed them on to me.

These diaries, with accompanying comments by Folke, provide a remarkably accurate chronological trail to track down friends, professional acquaintances, over 60 commissions, and a dozen or more exhibitions, often giving clues as to who had bought his works. There are many interesting anecdotes, these diaries are a remarkable testament to his fortitude and love of life, all when he was within a few months of his death.”

After Christmas 1982, Folke’s advancing cancer made him so unwell that he began to spend most of his time in his box bed and he wrote “Life is fascinating, the most important thing is to live it with all the richness, love and warmth we possess in our poor, weak bodies.” Luckily, he was also an inveterate letter writer leaving a collection of over 200 letters from various sources which have made it possible to make a record but, alas, a still incomplete one of his works. His family are always asking for news of any more that may come to light.

Download the diaries