From the Garden

Pekka Halonen prints bring the snowy pines, frozen lakes and quiet country life of Finland into your home. Halonen was a Finnish painter of the national romantic era who studied with Gauguin and spent his life painting the landscape and people of his homeland, believing art should produce "a feeling of peace". Our collection of fine art prints covers his winter landscapes, rural scenes, still lifes and portraits.

About Pekka Halonen

Pekka Halonen was born on 23 September 1865 in Lapinlahti, Finland, the son of a farmer who also worked as a decorative painter for churches; as a boy Pekka went with him and learned the craft. He studied for four years at the Finnish Art Society's drawing school in Helsinki and won a scholarship to study abroad.

In 1890 he went to Paris, studying at the Académie Julian and the Académie Vitti and then with Paul Gauguin. In 1896 he travelled to Florence, Siena, Rome and Naples to study early Renaissance art, and in 1900 he made two works for the Finnish Pavilion at the Paris Exposition Universelle.

In 1895 he married the music student Maija Mäkinen; they had eight children. That year the family settled at Lake Tuusula, where they built a pinewood house and studio, Halosenniemi. He died at Tuusula on 1 December 1933.

Style and Subjects

Halonen painted the Finnish landscape and its people with calm, clear observation. Gauguin's decorative Synthetism and Japanese woodcuts influenced him deeply, giving his pictures simple, flat shapes and strong outlines.

His winter scenes are especially loved: snow-laden pine saplings, frozen lakes, women washing clothes on the ice, all in soft blues, whites and greens. At a time when Finland's independence was threatened, he also painted the landscape as a symbol of national pride.

Famous Works

• The Short-Cut (1892), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. A figure crossing the countryside, from his early years.
• The Kantele Player (1892), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. A musician with the Finnish national instrument.
• Winter Landscape, Myllykylä (1896), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. A quiet snowy village scene.
• Snow-Covered Pine Saplings (1899), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. Young pines bowed under snow, one of his best-loved images.
• Washing on the Ice (1900), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. Women rinsing laundry through a hole in the frozen lake.
• Pioneers in Karelia (1900), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. Settlers clearing forest, a national romantic symbol.
• The Lynx Hunter (1900), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. A hunter on skis in the winter forest.
• Tomatoes (1913), Finnish National Gallery, Helsinki. A bright, simple still life.

Decorating with Halonen Prints

Halonen's winter scenes, like Snow-Covered Pine Saplings or Juniper Tree in Snow, are perfect for Scandinavian, Nordic and cabin-style interiors, and bring calm to a bedroom, living room or hallway. They make lovely seasonal art too.

His still lifes, such as Tomatoes, brighten a kitchen, and his rural scenes and portraits suit a study or family room.

FAQ

Who was Pekka Halonen?

Pekka Halonen (1865–1933) was a Finnish painter of landscapes and people in the national romantic and realist styles, best known for his winter scenes.

Did Pekka Halonen study with Gauguin?

Yes. In Paris in the early 1890s he studied with Paul Gauguin, whose decorative style, along with Japanese woodcuts, strongly influenced him.

What is Halosenniemi?

Halosenniemi is the pinewood house and studio on Lake Tuusula where Halonen and his family lived from 1895.

Where can I see Pekka Halonen's paintings?

The Finnish National Gallery (Ateneum) in Helsinki holds most of his major works.

Related Artists

• Paul Gauguin: his teacher in Paris
• Akseli Gallen-Kallela: leading Finnish national romantic painter
• Eero Järnefelt: fellow Finnish painter of the same generation
• Albert Edelfelt: leading Finnish painter of the generation before
• Venny Soldan-Brofeldt: Finnish painter in whose home he was a regular guest