Albert Edelfelt

Key facts

Lived

1854–1905, Grand Duchy of Finland

Movement

• Realism

1. 1854Born
2. 1877Painted "Queen Blanche de Namur"
3. 1881Painted "Service in the Southern Archipelago"
4. 1885Painted "Pasteur's portrait by Edelfelt"
5. 1887Painted "Women Outside the Church at Ruokolahti"
6. 1887Painted "The Luxembourg Gardens, Paris"
7. 1893Painted "December day"
8. 1905Died

• What should I know about Albert Edelfelt's prints?+

  During the late 19th century, there was a vogue for fine art etchings in Britain. Publishers responded by issuing magazines devoted to the etching, such as *The Etcher* (1879-83) and *English Etchings* (1881-91). Continental printmaking had a rich tradition, and etchers from abroad were often hired because they were cheaper than British ones. Prints after paintings by artists like Edward Burne-Jones added to their fame. These prints were considered fine works of art, the result of collaboration between engraver and painter. Burne-Jones embraced the revival in copperplate engraving, etching, dry-point and mezzotint, because the plates wore down quickly and could not sustain large numbers of prints. To ensure quality and exclusivity, the plates were often destroyed after small editions of 200 to 400 prints. Original prints, including woodcuts, engravings, linocuts, mezzotints, etchings, lithographs or serigraphs, are produced by hand by the artist. Each print is considered an original because the artist creates the artwork directly on the plate, woodblock, etching stone, or screen. Because original prints are always sold in limited editions, they command higher prices.
• What style or movement did Albert Edelfelt belong to?+

  Albert Edelfelt is usually associated with Realism, an art movement that emerged in France around the mid-19th century. Realist artists believed that only the contemporary world was truly 'real'. They focused on people and events of their time, avoiding historical or fictional subjects because these could not be directly observed. Gustave Courbet, a leading figure in Realism, aimed to depict everyday life, including working-class labourers and peasants, with accuracy. Realism involved a reconsideration of the painter’s goals, moving away from illusionism. Realists called attention to painting as a pictorial construction through their application of pigment and composition. Édouard Manet, a younger painter, also played a role in articulating Realist principles, often portraying daily life in industrialised Paris.
• What techniques or materials did Albert Edelfelt use?+

  Albert Edelfelt's techniques involved both watercolour and oil, and he seems to have been open to experimenting with different materials. When working in oil, Edelfelt, like many artists, began with a contract specifying materials, timescale, and payment. The studio itself was likely north-facing to maximise light. Oil paint took a long time to dry, so several works would be in progress at once. Assistants helped with tasks from cleaning to preparing paints. For supports, artists often used small panels for sketches, especially for street and sea views. Larger works and portraits were typically done on canvas, chosen for its texture. Some artists applied thin grounds to preserve the canvas texture, or glue-lined a fine canvas onto a coarser one to imitate the look of older paintings. Grounds were important, with some artists using commercially available white grounds, while others preferred a light grey imprimatura of oil paint for direct painting. Darker grey grounds were used to create chiaroscuro effects.
• What was Albert Edelfelt known for?+

  Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905) was a Finnish painter known for his Realist and Naturalist works. He achieved considerable recognition both in Finland and internationally during his lifetime. Edelfelt's art often depicted scenes from Finnish history and rural life. He also painted portraits of prominent figures. His style is characterised by attention to detail and an ability to capture the atmosphere of his subjects. Some of his well-known paintings include "Queen Bianca" (1877), a history painting, and "The Luxembourg Gardens" (1887), a scene of Parisian life. He also illustrated Johan Ludvig Runeberg's "The Tales of Ensign Stål", a collection of patriotic poems important to Finnish national identity. Edelfelt's work contributed to the development of Finnish art and helped to promote Finnish culture abroad. He was one of the first Finnish artists to gain international acclaim.
• When did Albert Edelfelt live and work?+

  Albert Edelfelt was born on 21 July 1854, in Borga, Finland, and he died on 18 August 1905, in Haikko, Finland. Edelfelt began seriously to paint in 1880. He entered the Royal School of Design in 1881, where he attended freehand and modelling classes. In 1882, he rented a studio with six fellow artists, and their work was supervised by the painter Christian Krohg. In 1883, Edelfelt was included in his first group exhibition in Oslo. Later that year, he attended Frits Thaulow's "open-air academy" at Modum. By 1884, he was in contact with the Bohemian set, the avant-garde of naturalistic painters and writers in Norway. In 1885, he travelled to Paris for three weeks, visiting the Salon and the Louvre. He was particularly impressed by Manet. After the summer, he returned to Oslo to begin three of his major works: *The Sick Child*, *The Morning After*, and *Puberty*.
• Where can I see Albert Edelfelt's work?+

  While a comprehensive list of galleries holding works by Albert Edelfelt is unavailable, some museums with collections of nineteenth-century European art may hold his paintings. In Europe, the Musée d’Orsay in Paris includes works by Bazille, Boudin, Cassatt, Van Gogh, Manet, Millet, Morisot, Orpen, Pissarro, Renoir, Signac and Sisley. The National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh has pieces by Bellotto, Elsheimer, Massys, Raeburn, Ramsay, Titian and Wilkie. The National Gallery of Wales in Cardiff includes works by Wilson. The Statens Museum for Kunst^[6] in Copenhagen holds paintings by Kroyer. In the United States, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts in Richmond may also be worth investigating.
• Where was Albert Edelfelt from?+

  Albert Edelfelt was a Finnish painter. Though passage 2 mentions that Chagall never visited Finland, Edelfelt was Finnish. Sulho Sipilä was greatly inspired by the Russian exhibition in Helsinki in 1916. The contact between Finnish art and Russian art was broken off by the revolution. Fernand Leger visited Finland in 1937 for an exhibition and gave a lecture in Helsinki. Alvar Aalto and Maire Gullichsen actively participated in preparations for the Guggenheim Museum's first exhibition there. Passage 3 mentions that Alberto Giacometti died in Switzerland in 1966. Albert Gleizes was born in Paris in 1881, worked in his father's textile design studio, and later founded an artist community outside of Paris. Wassily Kandinsky was born in Moscow in 1866, studied law and economics, and later taught at the Bauhaus. Passage 5 mentions that Ernst Ludwig Kirchner studied architecture in Dresden and painting in Munich before forming Die Brücke in Dresden.
• Who did Albert Edelfelt influence?+

  It is difficult to identify specific artists who were directly influenced by Albert Edelfelt. However, some contextual information may be helpful. In Russia, Scandinavian art gained traction among modernists. This suggests that Edelfelt's work, as a Scandinavian artist, may have had some impact on the Russian art scene of the early 20th century. Hungarian critics observed Béla Iványi-Grünwald's imitation of Gauguin. The critic joked that the similarity was that Gauguin painted Samoans in Tahiti, while Iványi painted Gypsies in Tahitótfalu. The French Masters exhibition in December 1907 introduced Impressionism to Hungary. Simon Hollósy was the only local artist to participate. The event familiarised the art-loving public with modern Western movements, promoting the development of local modern art.
• Who influenced Albert Edelfelt?+

  Albert Edelfelt's artistic development involved several influences, especially during his formative years. He began his art studies privately under Adolf von Becker in 1869. Later, he attended the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Society. There, he was taught by Carl Sjöstrand from 1871 to 1873. In 1873, Edelfelt moved to Antwerp; he studied at the Académie Royale des Beaux-Arts. He then went to Paris, joining the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1874. He was a student of Jean-Léon Gérôme, a painter and sculptor known for his academic style and Orientalist themes. Edelfelt admired Jules Bastien-Lepage, a French naturalist painter. Bastien-Lepage's influence is apparent in Edelfelt's plein-air painting and his focus on realistic depictions of rural life. Edelfelt's work also shows an awareness of contemporary French painting.
• Who is albert edelfelt?+

  Albert Edelfelt was a Finnish artist who achieved international recognition. He studied in Paris and painted Finnish subjects using the French Naturalist technique. He is known for his paintings of fishermen, children in sunlight, and historical and religious scenes.
• Why are Albert Edelfelt's works important today?+

  Albert Edelfelt (1854-1905) was a Finnish painter known for his realistic style and his ability to capture the spirit of his time. His works offer insights into the cultural and social life of Finland and Europe during the late 19th century. Edelfelt's portraits, such as those of Louis Pasteur and Aino Ackté, provide a glimpse into the lives of prominent figures of the era. His depictions of the Finnish people, particularly in works like "The Women of Ruokolahti", reflect the national romanticism movement and the growing sense of Finnish identity. Edelfelt's artistic explorations also align with broader European trends. The ambiguity present in art from around 1900 is considered a central indicator of developing Modernism. This engagement asks viewers to actively contribute their own thoughts and feelings to pursue possible meanings. Artists created audiences who were active participants in the creation of art. His paintings remain relevant for their historical value, artistic skill, and exploration into individual and national identity. They provide a window into a transformative period in European history.
• What art movement was Albert Edelfelt part of?+

  Albert Edelfelt was associated with the Realism movement.