Birger Carlstedt (1907-1975) was 22 when he designed the restaurant Le Chat Doré in Helsinki, a Constructivist synthesis of art and design. Carlstedt, who had lived Paris from early childhood, had a thorough knowledge of the latest movements in art. His first one-man shows were held in Turin and Milan and he had works in the Salon des Indépendents in Paris before exhibiting in Helsinki in 1932. The exhibition included interior designs, weaving patterns, curtains and carpets for Le Chat Doré as well as paintings. The reviews were scathing. Carlstedt's art was considered 'far-fetched, insane and perverse'.
For a while Carlstedt persevered: Do not try to understand! Try to apprehend intuitively in stead! Look at these paintings without prejudice, do not expect to find faces or landscapes, because this art is based purely on values of colour and form.
Finally Birger Carlstedt surrendered, like Olli Miettinen had, and
reverted for a long time to a more traditional idiom.
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Past, Present of Future? Problems of Orientation in the 20's and 30's 
Ernst Krohn : Koulutyttö Sakari Tohka : Nuoruus Eemu Myntti : Uimarannalla Yrjö Saarinen : Lepohetki Vilho Lampi : Raita Saunan katto Eero Nelimarkka : Neiti Kekäläinen The Noise and Quiet of the City Väinö Kunnas : Kaupunkikuva Harmaa tanssi Sulho Sipilä : Luistinrata Sisäkuva Ragnar Ekelund : Nôtre-Dame Olli Miettinen : La Piste II Birger Carlstedt : Paysage étrange Edwin Lydén : Ukonilma Otto Mäkilä : Kesäyö Satu Wäinö Aaltonen : Jean Sibelius Paavo Nurmen patsas Graniittipoika Kahlaaja Aleksis Kivi, luonnos
