Albert Edelfelt

The exhibition provides an overarching view of the life’s work of one of Finland’s most renowned and popular artists. Edelfelt made a notable international impact, and after settling and launching a career in Paris, paved the way and created contacts for other Finnish artists to follow.

  • 5.5.–17.9.2023
3rd floor
Tickets: with a museum ticket
Buy an advance ticket
The artist Albert Edelfelt wearing a 17th century costume.
Edelfelt, Albert: Self-Portrait in Dress of the 17th Century (1889), National Gallery / Ateneum Art Museum. Photo: National Gallery / Jenni Nurminen

An international perspective on a Finnish master

As well as being a pre-eminent artist, Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905) was socially skillful and spoke several languages. He travelled widely across Europe and the Nordics and lived a large portion of his life in Paris. While living and working in France, he met several of the leading names in the field of arts, culture and science as well as art collectors and dealers.

The Edelfelt exhibition will present portraits of the artist’s family members, prominent figures of the time, and artist colleagues. Other exhibits will include landscapes and views from Paris, as well as depictions from Edelfelt’s travels in the south of France, Italy and Spain. He painted familiar landscapes in Porvoo, at his villa in Haikko, and in Helsinki. The exhibition will include many beloved works that are considered to be Finnish national treasures, such as Boys Playing on the Shore (1884), The Luxembourg Gardens, Paris (1887), Women of Ruokolahti on the Church Hill (1887), and Conveying the Child’s Coffin (1879).

Edelfelt is a widely researched figure, which speaks to his central role in the history of Finnish art. Prior to the Ateneum Art Museum, the Edelfelt retrospective toured Petit Palais in Paris and the Gothenburg Museum of Art.

Received to wide public acclaim, the exhibitions have produced further research and new knowledge on Edelfelt’s life and career. The exhibition and the accompanying catalogue open up completely new perspectives into the artist’s career.

The exhibition is curated by Anne-Maria Pennonen and Hanne Selkokari, curators at the Ateneum Art Museum.

Read more about the touring exhibition

Exhibition intro for your group

Finnish National Gallery sales
sales@fng.fi
tel. +358 294 500 500 (Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00)

Exhibition intro: Albert Edelfelt

The picture shows white water lilies on dark water.

In this popular exhibition intro, an expert guide introduces you to Albert Edelfelt’s art with the help of a rich visual presentation. You can take in the exhibition intro while sitting comfortably in the Ateneum Hall, after which you are free to explore the exhibition at your own pace. The intro lasts about half an hour. 

Bookings: 

Finnish National Gallery sales 

sales@fng.fi 

tel. +358 294 500 500 (Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00) 

Intro languages: Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian 

Price: €8/person + museum entrance fee 

Group size: 10 to 100 people 

Duration: 30 minutes 

Exhibition intro for schools: Albert Edelfelt (grades 1–6)

The photo shows a young girl staring. She wears a red hat and black shirt.

In this popular exhibition intro, an expert guide introduces you to Albert Edelfelt’s art with the help of a rich visual presentation. You can take in the exhibition intro while sitting comfortably in the Ateneum Hall, after which you are free to explore the exhibition at your own pace. The intro lasts about half an hour. 

Bookings: 

Finnish National Gallery sales
sales@fng.fi
tel. +358 294 500 500 (Mon–Fri 10:00–14:00)

Available: Tue–Fri at 10:15 

Intro languages: Finnish, Swedish, English and Russian 

Price: €60 

Group size: max. 25 students  

Duration: 30 minutes 

Events related to the exhibition

No lifts found.

Artworks in the exhibition

Many of the artworks of the Albert Edelfelt exhibition belong to the collection of the Finnish National Gallery. You can browse these artworks in our online gallery.

Browse the artworks

The exhibition’s production group

PROJECT LEADER

Anne-Maria Pennonen

CURATORS

Anne-Maria Pennonen • Hanne Selkokari

COORDINATION

Minna Erwe • Erno Tainio

EXHIBITION DESIGN

Osmo Leppälä

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Osmo Leppälä • Suvi Wirman

PUBLIC PROGRAMMES

Anja Olavinen • Mari Jalkanen • Erica Othman

COMMUNICATIONS AND MARKETING

Anna Kari • Saara Myllymäki • Suvi Rusanen • Johanna Savolainen • Jaana Rosenlew

MUSEUM TECHNICIANS

Anssi Ahlgrén • Mikko Hallikainen •Timo Hiltunen • Hannu Ikola • Kari-Petteri Kakko • Martti Kervinen • Reine Lukinmaa • Mikko Martikainen • Timo Nurminen • Jussi Pakkala • Jürgen Sachau • Jyrki Vahteristo • Mikko Viinikainen • Topi Vähäsarja

LIGHTING

Johanna Naalisvaara • Timo Nurminen • Jani-Matti Salo

CONSERVATION

Karolina Henritius •  Kirsi Hiltunen • Pia Hurri • Katariina Johde • Jenni Jungman • Liisa Kantanen • Seppo Laakkonen • Ilona Osara •  Jenna Parkkila-Mäki • Minna Rajaniemi • Hanne Tikkala •  Kaisu Voutilainen • Riitta Vuori

PHOTOGRAPHY

Hannu Aaltonen • Ainur Nasretdin • Jenni Nurminen • Hannu Pakarinen • Aleks Talve

TRANSPORT

Marcus Liljeberg • Juha Peltonen

COLLECTION INFORMATION UNIT

Helena Hätönen • Leena Selin