Gunnar Berndtson

• Gunnar Berndtson : Peilin ääressä, 1889, 27,5x20,5, oil, panel (A II 776, Hoving) (57.9 kB)

Edelfelt drew around himself a group of contemporaneous and slightly younger frequenters of Paris, whose work in several ways reflected the realism and plein air painting of the '80s. The same salon style that was characteristic to many of Edelfelt's female portraits was followed by Gunnar Berndtson (1854-1895) in his minutely detailed genre paintings.

Berndtson originally dreamed of realising at last Fredrik Cygnaeus's idea of the nation's own history painter; and although he never accomplished this plan, he nevertheless gave many of his paintings a historical setting. This he did, however, more out of love for the magnificent artefacts and clothes of historical times than out of interest for history itself.

Berndtson was above all a skilful painter of clothes and interiors. Finns often found him too Parisian and therefore difficult to accept. But by following only his own likings and callings Gunnar Berndtson developed into a portrayer of beautiful fabrics, luxurious objects and genteel life, becoming the only thoroughbred salon painter in Finnish art.

Gunnar Berndtson : Peilin ääressä