In these works, meant to illustrate Kalevala, the national Finnish poem, Gallén Kallela had given free rein to his imagination - with the emphasis on rich, decorative colours, stylized surfaces and heightened outlines. Gallén Kallela conveys here an image of the world of Kalevala and folk poetry, coloured by his forceful personality. Deep emotions, strong passions and the manly struggle for survival unite these paintings; death broods over their archaically depicted world.
The departure of Vaeinaemoeinen, 1896-1906. The vengeance of Joukahainen, 1897.
The giant pike, 1904. The island of dreams, 1897.
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