--- type: exposition title: Akseli Gallen-Kallela language: en url: "https://www.belvedere.at/en/akseli-gallen-kallela" --- # Akseli Gallen-Kallela ## Picturing Finland ![Ölgemälde, das den Blick auf einen stillen See darstellt](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/header_cropped_1920x480_fp/public/2023-08/KG2021DK127.jpg.webp?itok=QvD2yHEJ) **Duration:** 27 September 2024 - 2 February 2025 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). \#AkseliGallenKallela ### [Lower Belvedere](https://www.belvedere.at/en/visit/lower-belvedere) **Opening hours:** Monday to Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm **Address:** Lower Belvedere, 1030 Vienna ([Getting there]()) [Tickets](https://www.belvedere.at/en/tickets?location%5B0%5D=3) ##### In cooperation with - [Logo Ateneum](https://ateneum.fi/en/) - Kurier - [Logo Uniqa](https://www.uniqa.at/) ## Impressions - ![Ausstellungsansicht Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Finnland erfinden — Exhibition view Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-09/UB%20Gallen-Kallela%20PR-5.jpg.webp?itok=ligBNLwH) - ![Ausstellungsansicht Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Finnland erfinden — Exhibition view Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-09/UB%20Gallen-Kallela%20PR-3.jpg.webp?itok=w-_TLi2P) - ![Ausstellungsansicht Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Finnland erfinden — Exhibition view Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland — Photo: Johannes Stoll / Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2024-09/UB%20Gallen-Kallela%20PR-1.jpg.webp?itok=9vnF27R8) - ![Ölgemälde, das den Blick auf einen stillen See darstellt — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Lake View, 1901 — Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki / Hannu Pakarinen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/KG2021DK127.jpg.webp?itok=Hu4YNWuA) - ![Ölgemälde von einem teilweise verschneiten Wald, in die Sonne scheint — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Spring, c. 1900 — Photo: Belvedere, Vienna](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/419.jpg.webp?itok=dup8hO-a) - ![In einem dunklen Zimmer sitzen ein Mann und ein Mädchen an einem Tisch vor einem Stück Stoff — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, First lesson, 1887-89 — Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki / Hannu Pakarinen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/KG2021DK130.jpg.webp?itok=_IG-zYZv) - ![Auf diesem Schwarz-/Weiß-Holzschnitt ist eine Kampfszene abgebildet — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, The Defence of the Sampo, 1895 — Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki / Hannu Pakarinen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/KG2021DK571.jpg.webp?itok=U_H0T0bq) - ![Am Seeufer ist ein Mann abgebildet, der etwas aufzuspannen scheint, zwei Kinder rechts unten im Bild blicken nach oben, eine Frau in einem schwarzen langen Kleid steht links am Bildrand und blickt in diese Richtung — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Spring, study for the Juselius Mausoleum frescoes, 1903 — Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki / Jenni Nurminen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/KG2021DK986.jpg.webp?itok=NphMdIyn) - ![Eine Frau sitzt vor dem liegenden Körper eines Mannes, dessen Augen von einem Tuch bedeckt sind, eine ihrer Hände auf seiner Brust liegend — Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Lemminkäinen‘s Mother, 1897 — Photo: Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki / Hannu Pakarinen](https://www.belvedere.at/sites/default/files/styles/equal_height_slider_1x/public/2023-08/KG2021DK1204.jpg.webp?itok=NnxpBPfr) ## Videos **Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland (Part 1)** **Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland (Part 2)** **Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland (Part 3)** **Akseli Gallen-Kallela. Picturing Finland (Part 4)**