Gallen-Kallela, Klimt & Wien

The Ateneum Art Museum is dedicating its current exhibition, “Gallen-Kallela, Klimt & Wien,” to Finnish artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela and is examining various influences on his art. A particular focus is on the Vienna Secession and, in especially, the artists Gustav Klimt and Kolo Moser. For the first time, the show brings Klimt's paintings to Finland, including Friends I (The Sisters) from the Klimt Foundation collection. Alongside fine art, the exhibition also showcases photography and design, including everyday objects, jewelry, and fashion.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Vienna was a vibrant melting pot of new ideas, styles, and international influences that attracted artists from various European countries. Akseli Gallen-Kallela also found his way to the imperial capital and residence city. He came into contact with the artists of the newly founded Vienna Secession and exhibited with them. Just as the Secession's primary goal was the equality of all forms of artistic expression, the exhibition also presents a conglomerate of different art forms. Works by important artists and designers are on display, including Emilie Flöge, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Ferdinand Hodler, Josef Hoffmann, Gustav Klimt, Broncia Koller-Pinell, Max Kurzweil, Elena Luksch-Makowsky, Koloman Moser, Edvard Munch, and Egon Schiele.

The exhibition was curated by Ana Utriainen (Ateneum Art Museum) and Arnika Groenewald-Schmidt (Belvedere).

Further details can be found here.