Pekka Halonen at Ateneum Museum



I have always loved finnish art, and Pekka Halonen is one of my favourite painters. So of course when I saw that the Ateneum Museum was having an exhibition with his work I had to go and see it.

I've already seen a lot of his works at his home and now museum in Tuusula and that was a great experience, not only because of his art, but also because of the surroundings and feeling of the place. I understand that he got inspired there and I strongly encourage everybody to visit it! Here is the webpage for the museum:
http://www.tuusula.fi/museot/halosenniemimuseum/index.tmpl?

numero=16777216

If you don't have time to check it out on the internet, here is the phone number: +358 9 8718 3461

For the info about Ateneum Museum, go to:
http://www.ateneum.fi/default.asp?docId=11935

Pekka Halonen was born on the 23^rd of September 1865 in Lapinlahti in Northern Savo. His family was a peasant family and both of his parents had artistic gifts. His father Olli Halonen made decorative paintings, especially for churches, and whenever he had a commission, little Pekka came along with him. That way, Pekka's love for art started very early. His mother Wilhelmiina was gifted in musical ways and thought Pekka about litterature, music and God.

Pekka Halonen studied at the Finnish Art Society’s Drawing School in Helsinki for 4 years in the beginning of his career. After graduating with excellent grades, he set off to Paris and became the pupil of Paul Gauguin, who thought Pekka to find his own style and let himself get inspired by his country's culture and history. And that also became Pekka Halonen's trademark; Finland, Finland and Finland.

Pekka married Maija Mäkinen, a young music student in 1895. A few years later they settled down in Tuusula, where he found a perfect “cabin” that would be their home, his atelier and today a museum in his honour. Today the place is knows as Halosenniemi Museum.

This place was a source of inspiration for Pekka, and he painted works with everyday life and family life in them. Nature was also something that was very important to him, and you can see that very clearly in his art.

Pekka Halonen died the 1^st of december 1933 in Halosenniemi. His wife died in 1944 and together, they got 8 children, four boys and four girls.