Artwork
By the River of Tuonela, study for the Jusélius Mausoleum frescos
By the River of Tuonela, study for the Jusélius Mausoleum frescos is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Akseli Gallen-Kallela. It dates from 1903 and is held in the collection of the Finnish National Gallery.
About this work
Overview
By the River of Tuonela is a 1903 oil painting by Akseli Gallen-Kallela, created as a study for the Jusélius Mausoleum frescos. The work features a group of figures, including a shirtless man in a boat, gathered near a dark, rocky riverbank, conveying a sense of tension through its composition and lighting.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a somber scene of figures near a river, with a mix of nude and tattered clothing, and a prominent child. The subject draws from Finnish national identity and the Kalevala, reflecting Gallen-Kallela’s exploration of symbolism and national themes.
Technique & Style
Executed in a post-impressionist style, the painting utilizes bold shadows, uneven lighting, and rough textures to shape the figures. The use of chiaroscuro creates a dramatic effect, emphasizing the serious expression of the man in the boat and the vulnerability of the child.
History & Provenance
Created in 1903 as a preparatory study for the Jusélius Mausoleum frescos, the painting is now part of the Ateneum collection. It marks a period in Gallen-Kallela’s career when he shifted from realism towards symbolism, aligning with his involvement in Finnish romantic nationalism.
Context
The work is rooted in Gallen-Kallela’s broader engagement with the Kalevala and Finnish national identity. As a central figure in Finnish romantic nationalism, his shift towards symbolism in the 1890s influenced the painting’s themes and execution.
Artist & collection
Artist
Akseli Gallen-Kallela (born Axel Waldemar Gallén; 26 April 1865 – 7 March 1931) was a Finnish painter and a leading figure of Finnish romantic nationalism around the turn of the 20th century.
