The image of man

In the 19th-century paintings by Ferdinand von Wright, Berndt Lindholm, and Hjalmar Munsterhjelm, man has been placed as part of a rugged landscape, according to the ideals of the Romantic period. In the works of Savo-based Juho Rissanen and Pekka Halonen, people are realistically depicted in everyday toil. Everyday works are also present in the colorful cubist paintings by Unto Pusan ​​and Gösta Diehl.

The happy leisure time is on display in works painted according to the ideals of Impressionism, in which sunny days by the sea and summer meadows are immortalized. The exhibition also takes a look at the everyday life of the homes and often features a woman in these descriptions. Ellen Thesleff’s portrait of her reading sister, Tove Jansson’s description of a woman sitting at a table, Riikka Lenkker’s vision of herself in the morning and Joel Slotten’s Toipilas (2019) offer a glimpse into a woman’s life. Alongside the paintings and sculptures, photography and video art by Susanna Majuri and Elina Brotherus, among others, are on display.

The exhibition also deals with sexuality, which is the theme of Viggo Wallensköld’s painting Honor (2009) and Synnöve Rabbi’s series of photographs. There is also death associated with life, which is featured in Hugo Simberg’s Tuonela Gate (1898) and Kimmo Schroderus’ skeleton 27 years in the field of art (1989-2017).

The Art Collections of the Association of Finnish Art Foundations comprise thousands of works from the 15th century to the present day. The exhibition features works from the following art foundations: Alfred Kordelin Foundation, Fortum Art Foundation, Gösta Serlachius Art Foundation, OP Financial Group Art Foundation, Pro Artibus Foundation, Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Merita Art Foundation and UPM-Kymmene Culture Foundation.

The curator of the exhibition is Marja Louni, curator of the Kuopio Art Museum.

Above photo: Ferdinand von Wright, Excursion Society in Haminalahti, 1869. Merita Art Foundation. Museum photo Matti Huuhka Co