The Edelfelt art exhibition that opened in the Ateneum Art Museum presents familiar national treasures, but also many surprises.
The video above this story gives a little preview of what can be seen at Ateneum now.
Albert Edelfelt was a fluent cosmopolitan and networker of his time. He traveled in Europe and the Nordic countries and lived a large part of his life in Paris.
He had a job first, and only then a family.
Edelfelt was a man of the world
Albert Edelfelt was a man of the world who was interested in the fashion and trends of the time.
He was social by nature, which was very useful – his artistry required financial help from patrons.
Ateneum’s exhibition presents the artist as an international influence. He was a pioneer and creator of connections for other Finnish artists working in Paris.
In France, Edelfelt got to know many of the leading artists of his time, prominent figures in the cultural and scientific life, as well as art collectors and art dealers.
He painted portraits of them, which was a key source of income in terms of livelihood.
Also on display are national treasures
The exhibition comprehensively presents the artist’s entire versatile life’s work.
There are 230 works on display. Most are paintings, but there are also graphics, watercolors and pastels.
In addition to portraits, the exhibition features landscapes from Edelfelt’s travels, but also from more familiar places such as his summer villa in Haikou.
These famous paintings from the exhibition are considered Finnish national treasures:
Edelfelt’s art \”is understandable\”
Last year, some of the works were exhibited in the Petit Palais art museum in Paris. The export exhibition was a success and was seen by almost 140,000 visitors. They were particularly impressed by the artist’s ability to paint light in his works.
The light flickers in the pictures of a warm summer day. It shines in the hair, faces and surface of the water of little boys, as in the work *Playing boys on the beach* (1884).
You can see the painting in the video above the article.
Why is Albert Edelfelt such a beloved artist, what explains his popularity?
– His art is understandable. There are points of identification, sad and happy topics that people can also find in their own lives, says curator Anne-Maria Pennonen.
*The Albert Edelfelt exhibition is at the Ateneum Art Museum from 5 May to 17 September 2023.*
Yle told in its story on 3.5. about an auction find that turned out to be an Edelfelt painting: