The Spirit of Finland: Akseli Gallen-Kallela
January 10, 2007 | Levent OZLER
Akseli Gallen-Kallela is renowned to this very day, as Finland's greatest artist.
His wonderful paintings of the national epic The Kalevala helped shape the Finnish national identity.
He also painted the Finnish upper class, as well as the circle of artists to which he belonged, Edvard Munch and Jean Sibelius among them.
His oeuvre moved from a realistic and naturalistic portrayal of his subject matter towards a more Symbolist and linear approach, especially in his paintings of the Kalevala.
He was also to spend his life painting the Finnish landscape.
Gallen-Kallela's fascination for Finland as an independent, untouched and free country is articulated in all aspects of his oeuvre.
His many unpopulated and tranquil landscapes, the unique studio houses he built, and especially his life-long endeavours to illustrate The Kalevala all bear evidence to his outlook.
It is this comprehensive and versatile, almost mythical magnum opus that is responsible for the image that the word 'Finland' evokes in visitors to the country down to the present day.
This will be the first time since the death of Akseli Gallen-Kallela in 1931 that such an extensive overview of his work is shown outside the Nordic Countries.
more: groningermuseum.nl/index.php?id=2602 (606)
621 impressions - 68,872 clicks
