PARIS - Musée d'Orsay

62 rue de Lille - 75007 Paris
Métro : Musée d'Orsay, Solférino


Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931).
A Passion for Finland

Although recognised as one of the most emblematic artists of the Finnish genius at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, Akseli Gallen-Kallela has never been the subject of a monographic exhibition in France. Yet he was closely linked with Paris: a pupil of the Académie Julian in the 1880s, he triumphed at the 1900 World Fair with the frescoes of the Finnish Pavillion with themes drawn from the mythical epic Kalevala, he exhibited his work again in Paris in 1909 before embarking for Africa from which he returned with a flamboyant series of paintings and watercolours.

Realism, neo-romanticism, symbolism are intermingled in his work, which also include decorative arts. The exhibition accounts for this brilliant career, showing together pieces usually conserved in prestigious Finnish institutions and private collections that constitute manifestos of an art too often reduced to the expression of a national identity.

This exhibition has been organised by :
the musée d'Orsay, Paris
the Helsinki Art Museum
the Museum Kunstpalast, Düsseldorf

Exhibition also presented in:
Helsinki, Art Museum, from 23 September 2011 to 15 January 2012
Düsseldorf, Museum Kunstpalast, from 1 June to 2 September 2012


USEFUL INFOS :
Opening hours :
Open from 9.30am to 6pm
Daily, except Mondays
Late night on Thursdays until 9.45pm
Last tickets sold at 5pm (9pm Thursdays)
Museum cleared at 5.30pm (9.15pm Thursdays)
Group visits, pre-booked only, Tuesday to Saturday, 9.30am to 4pm (Thursdays until 8pm)
Closed on Mondays, on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December

Café and Restaurant in the Museum.

Metro : Solférino
RER : Musée d'Orsay
Bus : 24, 63, 68, 69, 73, 83, 84, 94

PRICES :
Full rate: € 8 / Concessions: € 5.50 € / Under 18s and members: free
More infos : http://www.musee-orsay.fr/en/visit/admission/admission-fees.html

Tél : +33 01 40 49 48 14

Photo : Akseli Gallen-KallelaLemminkaïnen's Mother© Finnish National Gallery / Central Art Archives. Photo Jouko Könönen