DUBLIN, IRELAND.- The National Gallery of Ireland presents an exhibition on one of the treasures of Northern European art – Finnish painting and printmaking of the turn of the nineteenth century. Celebrating the highpoints of Finnish art, when the country was still a Grand Duchy of Russia, the exhibition will feature some 75 works which show a mix of native influences with international styles. On exhibition 8 November through 1 February, 2009.

Finnish landscape painting will be represented by, among others, Eero Järnefelt (1863-1937), and Väinö Blomstedt (1871-1947), who captured the country’s distinctive forests, lakes and rivers in a uniquely heroic and symbolic manner. The exhibition will demonstrate how artists depicted legends and myths, with a particular emphasis on the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic.

Finland's celebrated pavilion at the World Fair in Paris in 1900 will be documented with works by Pekka Halonen (1865-1933) and Juho Rissanen (1873-1950), which were purposely painted for this landmark occasion. The final part of the exhibition will present an overview of the various trends of early twentieth-century Modernism in Finland, including works from the Septem Group (Magnus Enckell, Yrjö Ollila, Ellen Thesleff and Verner Thomé) and the November Group (Tyko Sallinen, Marcus Collin and Alvar Cawén).

The exhibition is organised in collaboration with the Ateneum Art Museum, Helsinki.

Catalogue
The accompanying illustrated catalogue, edited by exhibition curator, Dr Adriaan E. Waiboer, will include written contributions by Ville Lukkarinen and Timo Huusko.

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The National Gallery of Ireland houses the national collection of Irish art and European master paintings. Admission to the permanent collection is free