In this thesis I examine symbolism movement in Finland around 1900. I explore the main concepts and theories of symbolism in general and showcase Finnish painters whose work was influenced by it. I present the premises of theory of symbolism, which originated from Plato’s, Plotinus’s and Emanuel Swedenborg’s philosophies, and then was developed to literary theory by Charles Baudelaire and Jean Moréas. Then it took shape in visual arts as synthetism at the hands of Paul Gauguin and his associates. I address how symbolism was received and look over the historical events that affected the nature of symbolism movement in Finland. I review the question of national identity, in addition to its influence on Finnish symbolism and to the birth of national romanticism, karelianism. As an example I represent and analyze the Kalevala paintings by Akseli Gallen-Kallela. I review the crisis of Finnish art and its reformation by critics Sigurd Frostelus, Gustav Strengell and the artist group Septem. I conclude the study with an introduction of Finnish symbolist artists Magnus Enckell, Hugo Simberg and Ellen Thesleff and outline the main attributes of their art and their connection to symbolism.
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