8 Notable 20th-Century Finnish Artists
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Loading... - Giorgia Parisi
- 01 Nov 2022
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From art inspired by nationalism to leading ideas of modern art, here are eight of the most notable 20th century Finnish artists.
By the end of the 19th century, Finland began experiencing a rise in artistic production, coinciding with the country’s national awakening. Visual art embraced the Finnish form of epic poetry known as Kalevala, Finnish landscapes, and the life of its people as its main inspiration. Besides the rise of art inspired by nationalist ideals, Finnish artists traveled to great centers of European art and participated in the development of new movements and artistic ideas.
They worked with some of Europe’s most notable artists but also threaded on their own artistic paths. This article showcases a vast range of Finnish artists, from realists and romantic nationalist painters to artists who dabbled in all of the tendencies of modern art.
1. Ellen Thesleff
Ellen Thesleff was born on October 5th, 1869 in Helsinki to an upper-class Swedish-speaking family. She started her artistic education in 1885, and already achieved recognition in Finland in 1891, at only 22 years of age. At different times, her art has been related to Symbolism, Expressionism, and even Impressionism. In fact, her art escapes all definitions of style. During her long career, she consciously avoided theories and manifests.
Roaming through the great art centers of Europe made her an early, international modernist. Inspired by English modernist theater practitioner Gordon Craig, she started working on colored woodcuts, which were a novelty in Finland. Read More...
