Villa Gyllenberg's summer exhibition presents art that brims with beauty and the joy of life

A longing for beauty

Many associate the art and fashion of the 1920s–1940s with minimalist forms of expression, a tomboy aesthetic and exhilarating urban life. However, in the interwar period and even during the war, beauty and the joy of life were also sought. Paradisiacal garden landscapes, historically inspired interiors and romantic costumes reveal a new side of the era. This art featured glowing colours and serene depictions of everyday life, as well as garden and picnic motifs.

“In 20^th-century art history, streamlined modernism has been considered the only correct direction for the development for art, which has overshadowed artists and styles that were actually really popular in their time,” says Lotta Nylund, curator of the exhibition and Chief Curator of Villa Gyllenberg. “In addition to paintings, the exhibition will feature furniture and costumes, including rare robe de style dresses that we will receive on loan, of which there are only a few examples in Finnish collections. The garden of Villa Gyllenberg has also been studied and restored, and it will be included as part of the exhibition.”

French colourism

In post-Civil War Finland, the atmosphere was oppressive and there was a shortage of everything, but in Paris the atmosphere was freer and the culture more international. The Finnish artists presented in the exhibition spent a lot of time in France and were influenced by French post-impressionist artists such as Maurice Brianchon, Jules Cavaillès and Marie Laurencin. Finnish artists presented in the exhibition include Tove Jansson, Birger Kaipiainen and Hjalmar Hagelstam, whose impressive and colourful works have rarely been exhibited. Alongside the works of Finnish artists, works by thirteen French artists will be presented.

A publication containing new research information will also be published in Finnish and Swedish in connection with the exhibition. The authors of the publication are Janne Arensen, Julia Donner, Ville Lukkarinen, Maija Mäkikalli and Lotta Nylund.

The museum's opening hours will be extended from the start of the exhibition. As of 22 April 2026, the museum will be open 12-17 also on Thursdays, in addition to Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The exhibition will features works by the following artists and designers: Väinö Blomstedt, Carl-Johan Boman, Maurice Brianchon, Rut Bryk, Yngve Bäck, Birger Carlstedt, Jules Cavaillès, Marcus Collin, Gösta Diehl, Magnus Enckell, Arthur Fages, Hjalmar Hagelstam, Adrien Holy, Tove Jansson, Unto Kaipainen, Birger Kaipiainen, Marie Laurencin, Raymond Legueult, Jacques Lestrille, Roger Limouse, Marguerite Louppe, Armas Mikola, Roland Oudot, André Planson, Maurice-George Poncelet, Émile Sabouraud, Juho Salminen, Helene Schjerfbeck, Vilho Sjöström, Venny Soldan-Brofeldt, Paavo Tynell, Sam Vanni, Carl Wargh.

Contacts

Lotta Nylund, Chief Curator, lotta.nylund@gyllenbergs.fi, +358 40 576 1753
Siiri Oinonen, Head of Customer and Program Services, siiri.oinonen@gyllenbergs.fi, +358 40 825 4763

Tour bookings

villa@gyllenbergs.fi

Address

Kuusisaarenpolku 11
00340 Helsinki