Thorsten Laurin was a book publisher at the family business Norstedts and was also one of the great art collectors in his day – two sides that are suggested by the book spines and works of art in the background. He was also one of Larsson’s closest friends and gave him advice, assignments and contacts. For his new villa on Djurgården he bought Larsson’s monumental painting My Family. He and his brother, Carl G. Laurin, were key figures on the contemporary art scene and were founder members of the Friends of the Nationalmuseum.