Artwork
lasimaalauksia, Suomen kansallismuseon pääportaikko, ethnographia - historia - archaeologia
lasimaalauksia, Suomen kansallismuseon pääportaikko, ethnographia - historia - archaeologia is a photography by Eric O. W. Ehrström. It is held in the collection of the Finnish Heritage Agency. This photograph documents a series of stained-glass windows installed in the main staircase of the National Museum of Finland.
About this work
Overview
This photograph documents a series of stained-glass windows installed in the main staircase of the National Museum of Finland.
This photograph documents a series of stained-glass windows installed in the main staircase of the National Museum of Finland. The panels, arranged in vertical rows, combine botanical motifs, geometric designs, and schematic human figures. Executed in muted tones, the imagery reflects an early 20th-century aesthetic, while the photograph’s grain and fading suggest its own historical distance from the original work.
Subject & Meaning
The windows juxtapose abstracted flora—flowers and foliage—with rigid geometric patterns and stylized human forms. These elements likely reference Finnish cultural heritage, blending natural symbolism with decorative order. The simplified figures may represent historical or mythological themes, though their exact narratives remain ambiguous, inviting interpretation through the lens of national identity.
Technique & Style
The stained glass employs flat, two-dimensional forms characteristic of early modernist design. Dark leading outlines the shapes, creating stark contrasts against lighter backgrounds. The palette appears restrained, favoring earthy or subdued hues. The overall composition balances repetition with variation, reflecting influences from both folk art and contemporary European glasswork trends of the period.
History & Provenance
Installed in the National Museum of Finland, these windows were likely commissioned as part of the building’s construction in the early 1900s. The museum, designed by architects Herman Gesellius, Armas Lindgren, and Eliel Saarinen, sought to embody Finnish national culture through architecture and decorative arts. The stained glass has remained in situ, serving as an integral part of the institution’s visual narrative.
Context
Created during a period of heightened national consciousness, the windows align with broader efforts to define Finnish identity through art and architecture. The National Museum’s decorative program, including these panels, aimed to synthesize ethnographic, historical, and archaeological themes. The imagery reflects a dialogue between local traditions and the stylistic innovations of the era.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eric O. W. Ehrström spent years on his hands and knees, squinting at stained-glass windows under scaffolding. He didn’t just snap photos—he climbed into the frames, capturing the way light turns red into honey and blue…
Omakuva
lasimaalaus, Forssan kirkon kuori-ikkuna, Jeesuksen syntymä
lasimaalaus, Forssan kirkon kuori-ikkunat
Mäntän kirkon urkuparven lasimaalaus, enkelit ja G. A. Serlachiuksen toiminimimerkki
lasimaalaus, Kymintehdas, cantus musica
lasimaalaus, Olaus Petrin kirkko, kyyhkynen ja kruunu
lasimaalaus, Kymintehdas, comedia retoria
lasimaalausluonnos, kukka- ja kasviornamentiikkaa
lasimaalaus, eteishallin ikkuna, omistaja herra Kivi
lasimaalaussuunnitelma, kasviornamentiikkaa
lasimaalaussuunnitelma, kasviornamentiikkaa, hedelmäkulhoja
lasimaalausluonnos pyörökaari-ikkunaan, Laulu ja Soitto
lasimaalausluonnos, maisema
lasimaalaus, Hauhon kirkon kuori-ikkuna, pelikaani
lasimaalaus, Kemiön kirkon kuori-ikkuna