Finnish National Gallery

Magnus Enckell

Lepäävä poika

Magnus Enckell, Ellen Thesleff and Beda Stjernschantz, who all arrived in Paris during 1891, formed the core of Finnish Symbolism. Magnus Enckell (1870-1925) became the leader of the group and the movement's promulgator in Finland. He lacked the age's nationalistic ideals and their binding aims. He was unable to accept strictly national ends and turned towards art which based itself on universal intentions and achievements

The ten works that Enckell created during 1892-94 laid the foundation for his later work as well as for Finnish Paris-influenced Symbolism in general. These include a series of pictures of young boys that forms a whole: a picture of man in a timeless, anonymous space, concentrating only on his own existence. In these paintings Enckell has omitted all possible extraneous elements, also colour as far as possible. Being a skilful draughtsman he reduced his message into line plus colour effects that directly emphasize the line. The simplification applied not only to line, colour and composition, but also to the psychological content of the pictures.  [NEXT PAGE]

* The Age of Symbolism * Magnus Enckell : Lepäävä poika * Herääminen * Poika ja pääkallo * Ellen Thesleff : Toskanalainen maisema * Kevätyö * Omakuva * Viulunsoittajatar * Beda Stjernschantz : Kaikkialla ääni kaikuu * Ville Vallgren : Ylösnousemus, kevät * Kaiku * Leski * Ruusutanssi * Hugo Simberg : Halla * Näky * Syksy * Piru padan ääressä * Sallittu * Kuoleman puutarha * Satu II * Haavoittunut enkeli * Täti

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Magnus Enckell, works at the collections