Selma Lagerlöf: The pioneer of literature and her cultural experiences!

Selma Lagerlöf: The pioneer of literature and her cultural experiences!

On August 17, 2025, the life and work of Selma Lagerlöf, the first woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature, will be honored. She was born in 1858 on the Mårbacka estate in Sweden and died in 1940 at the age of 81. Her creative work is now seen as a significant expansion of Swedish literature, characterized by modern developments and innovative narrative techniques.

Lagerlöf has gone down in history not only as an author, but also as the inventor of the concept “Sweden from above”. She began this vision at the time of the first airplanes and linked it to the idea of ​​introducing students to Swedish nature and culture. This happened especially in her famous work, in which the character Nils Holgersson travels through his homeland on the back of a goose.

Cultural heritage and influence

Selma Lagerlöf was one of the world's first best-selling authors and the first writer able to make a living from writing alone. Their influence on literature and society is still felt today. The current memorial event is being directed by André Schäfer, which is made possible through collaboration with various institutions and archival collections. The image source is attributed to NDR/ARTE/Florianfilm GmbH/Mårbackastiftelsen.

Another creative project that is generating enthusiasm these days is making lifelike gumpaste babies for baby shower cakes or cupcakes. This craftsmanship requires special materials and techniques to achieve realistic results.

Creative Baking: Gumpaste Babies

• Silikon-Babymold
• Weiße Gumpaste oder eine 50/50 Mischung mit Fondant
• X-acto-Messer oder scharfe Klinge
• Feine und mittlere Pinsel
• Blütenstaub (rosa, braun)
• Gel-Farben (Kupfer/Hautfarbe & Schokoladenbraun)
• Puderzucker
• Wodka oder Zitronenextrakt zur Verdünnung der Farben

To make gumpaste, gumpaste in the desired skin color is first produced by adding flesh color and a little brown and kneading well. The paste is then shaped into a smooth egg shape. The next step is to press the gumpaste firmly into the mold and remove any excess paste. The mold should be placed in the freezer for 20-25 minutes before carefully opening to remove the gumpaste baby.

To make the gumpaste baby more realistic, various techniques are used, such as painting with pink pollen for facial features and coloring lips and eyebrows with food coloring. Optionally, the baby can be decorated with clothing, a diaper or other accessories.

These two themes - Selma Lagerlöf's literary legacy and the art of gumpaste making - show the diversity of creative work and the importance of tradition and innovation in today's society. For more information on creating lifelike gumpaste babies, visit Cake Central, while the tribute to Selma Lagerlöf ARD media library learn more about her life and her successes.