Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) was Finland’s most famous progressive artist around 1900 and a major figure in international modern art. The Belvedere — in collaboration with the Ateneum Art Museum, Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki — is presenting the first exhibition to be devoted to this artist in Austria.

At the turn of the century, Finland was a grand duchy striving for independence from Russian rule. Gallen-Kallela’s depictions of Finland’s people, myths, and nature played a key role in forming a national identity. At the same time, his modern visual language, developed in constant dialogue between Finnish sources of inspiration and influences from artistic centers such as Paris, Berlin, London, and Vienna, brought him international acclaim.

The exhibition invites visitors to explore these fascinating interactions in Gallen-Kallela’s artistic engagement with his country and its people, the Finnish national epic Kalevala, the idea of the Gesamtkunstwerk (total work of art), and the Nordic landscape. The international dimension of Gallen-Kallela’s art is showcased by shining a spotlight on his contributions to the Vienna Secession exhibitions of 1901/02 and 1904.

(Curated by Arnika Groenewald-Schmidt (Belvedere) in cooperation with Anu Utriainen [Ateneum])