Hugo Simberg

• Hugo Simberg : Halla, 1895, 27x18 cm, paper (A II 968:3) (68.5 kB)

While Symbolism meant for many Finnish artists an interesting phase in their work, for only one of them it became a working principle throughout an entire life's work. Hugo Simberg (1873-1917) knew from the very start of his career that the Realism-based teaching of the Art Society's drawing school was not what he wanted. Therefore he very soon turned down the opportunity to study in this school, applied and was accepted as Akseli Gallen-Kallela's student in Kalela at Ruovesi, where the unquestionable leader of Finnish art had withdrawn to work in the peace of the wilderness. But Hugo Simberg had no interest for seeking out those genuine people and ethnic types that his teacher searched for. For Simberg the genuine and the original existed in the artist's mind and imagination.

Hugo Simberg : Halla