Painter. Full name Nils Elias Christoffer von Dardel. A leading Post-Impressionist, his original style was inspired by folk art, the pure colors of the Fauves, and by Japanese woodcuts.  Born in Bettna,  Sweden,  he studied at the Royal Swedish Academy of Art and settled in Paris in 1910.  He was married to painter Thora Dardel from 1921 to 1934.  Although he had a steadily growing reputation in France,  Dardel did not achieve international recognition until a major retrospective of his work was held in Stockholm in 1939.  World War II erupted soon afterwards and he moved to New York City,  where he died of a heart attack at 54.  A series of postage stamps was issued in Sweden to mark Dardel’s centenary in 1988. (bio by: Bobb Edwards)