Akseli Gallen Kallela

Style: Realism; Symbolism;

Place: Pori

Born: 1865

Death: 1931

Biography:

Early Life and Training

, a Swedish-speaking Finnish painter, is renowned for his captivating illustrations of the Kalevala, Finland's national epic. Born on April 26, 1865, in Pori, Finland, to a Swedish-speaking family, Akseli Gallen-Kallela would later adopt his more Finnish-sounding name in 1907.

Artistic Journey and Influences

• Initially, Gallen-Kallela's father opposed his ambition to become a painter, sending him to study at a grammar school in Helsinki.
• After his father's death in 1879, Gallen-Kallela attended drawing classes at the Finnish Art Society (1881-4) and studied privately under Adolf von Becker.
• In 1884, he moved to Paris to study at the Académie Julian, befriending fellow artists Albert Edelfelt, Adam Dörnberger, and writer August Strindberg.

Symbolist Period and Notable Works

• Aino Myth, a romantic painting of the Kalevala (1891)
• Defense of the Sampo, a more aggressive work following his daughter's death (1895)
• Kullervo Cursing and Lemminkäinen's Mother, reflecting his shift towards more intense themes

Later Life and Legacy

• In 1901, Gallen-Kallela was commissioned to paint the fresco Kullervo Goes to War for the Helsinki Student's Union.
• Between 1911 and 1913, he designed and built a studio and house at Tarvaspää, which now serves as the Gallen-Kallela Museum.
• Gallen-Kallela's work was featured in various exhibitions, including one in the United States from December 1923 to May 1926.

Museums and Collections

• Suomen Kansallisgalleria, the Finnish National Gallery, features several of Gallen-Kallela's works, including Viittatie jäällä and Rotting Fish.
• The Ateneumin Taidemuseo, part of the Finnish National Gallery, also showcases Gallen-Kallela's art.

Online Resources

• View Akseli Gallen-Kallela's artwork on https://Wikioo.org/@/Akseli_Gallen_Kallela, featuring over 200 art pieces.
• Learn more about Symbolist painting and its characteristics on Wikipedia: [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolist_painting](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbolist_painting)

Conclusion

's legacy as a Finnish Symbolist master endures, with his captivating illustrations of the Kalevala and various other works showcased in museums and online platforms. His influence on Finnish art and culture remains significant to this day.