Akseli Gallen-Kallela
Still Life

Still Life (1918) by Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) depicts a table, set with traditional Finnish delicacies such as meat, beetroot, carrots and a bottle of schnapps with its associated shot glasses. Carried out with animated brushstrokes and in bright shades of colour, it reflects the artist’s ambition to develop his style of painting. While he was known for his realistic style and nationalist subjects, in the early 1900s Gallen-Kallela felt a desire for renewal and his colour palette shifted to brighter tones while his technique became more painterly. Although this still life has a classical motif, it stands out from the artist’s prior work thanks to its novel form of expression, fresh palette and lively brush technique.