Elin Danielson-Gambogi, an artist following her own path, exhibited at the Ateneum

Elin Cleopatra Danielson-Gambogi (1861–1919) boldly followed her own path, living a bohemian life. The international artist was the first Finn to have works exhibited at the Venice Biennale in 1899. Danielson-Gambogi was a skilled draughtswoman and user of colour, a perceptive portraitist, and a sensitive observer of light and mood. 

The exhibition, which is to open at the Ateneum in April 2027, will present the artist’s entire career and her best-known works. The featured works include Mother (1893) and Self-Portrait (1900). The exhibition will also feature works not previously shown in Finland, as well as works that were last exhibited during the artist’s lifetime. The exhibition will feature almost 200 works in total, most of which come from private collections in Finland and Italy. 

The selection of works on display draws on extensive research. In recent years, significant Danielson-Gambogi works have been acquired to add to the collection within the remit of the Ateneum Art Museum as part of the Finnish National Gallery. 
 

Danielson-Gambogi challenged the notions of femininity and privacy 

Danielson-Gambogi broke the norms of her time, both in everyday life and in art. She travelled, worked abroad, smoked, cut her hair short, and continued her career as an artist after marrying, also supporting her husband. 

Danielson-Gambogi often portrayed femininity and motherhood from an unconventional perspective, highlighting intimate topics such as breastfeeding and the marriage bed. For example, in Mother (1893), the artist depicted her sister, Tytty, breastfeeding her child in the bedroom. Danielson-Gambogi also sought to examine women’s work and daily life in different social classes. 

Extensive networks and international communities 

The comprehensive exhibition at the Ateneum will highlight Danielson-Gambogi’s international career in Paris, Brittany and Italy, as well as her work in the Önningeby artists’ colony in Åland. The artist spent half of her career in Italy. 

The exhibition will also feature works by Danielson-Gambogi’s husband, Raffaello Gambogi, and her artist friends, such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Pekka Halonen, Dora Wahlroos, Hanna Rönnberg, Amélie Lundahl and Gustav Vigeland. 

The accompanying exhibition catalogue will deepen the artist’s life story and the themes of the exhibition through eight research articles. This will be the first comprehensive presentation of both Danielson-Gambogi’s entire career and her work in Finland and internationally. In addition to articles by Finnish art historians, there are contributions from the Italian art historians Antonella Perna and Maria Stella Bottai. The richly illustrated exhibition catalogue will be published in Finnish, Swedish and English. 

The exhibition will be curated by Anne-Maria Pennonen (guest curator), PhD, and Petra Lehtoruusu, curator at the Ateneum. 

Elin Danielson-Gambogi at the Ateneum from 9 April to 17 September 2027 

More information:
Communications officer Reetta Haarajoki, tel. +358 50 476 6290, reetta.haarajoki (at) ateneum.fi
Communications manager Anna Kari, tel. +358 40 717 8185, anna.kari (at) ateneum.fi

Ateneum Art Museum 

Opening hours 

Mon closed | Tue 10–18 | Wed–Thu 10–20 | Fri 10–18 | Sat–Sun 10–17 

Admission fees 

Standard ticket at the ticket office €23 | Standard ticket online €21 | Concession ticket €13 | 18–24-year-olds €13 | Under 18-year-olds free of charge | Free admission with a Museum Card