Golden Age of Culture

Juho Rissanen: The Fortune-Teller, 1899. #Ateneum Art Museum. Juho Rissanen was one of the first Finnish painters, whose parents were servants. At that time artists usually came from gentry. Models for this painting came from Antikkala house in Kuopio. Topic was international as hand reading wasn't appreciated locally due to religious reasons. It was one of two paintings (the other being Blind, 1899) by Juho Rissanen to be featured at Exposition #Universelle 1900 aka the World's Fair in…

Minna #Canth (1844–1897) was a Finnish writer and social activist. She began to write while managing her family draper's shop and living as a widow raising seven children in Kuopio. Canth was a pioneer in education and the 1st Finnish woman to run a newspaper. Minna Canth is the first woman to receive her own flag day in Finland, starting on 19 March 2007. It is also the day of social #equality in Finland. The only Academy Professorship of women's studies in Finland is named after Minna…

Ferdinand von Wright (1822–1906) was a Finnish painter. He was born into a wealthy family (owners of #Haminalahti manor) in Kuopio. Ferdinand traveled to Sweden to assist his brother Wilhelm in his illustration work at the Royal Swedish Academy of Arts. He returned soon and lived a secluded but productive life. Ferdinand von Wright is famous for his work on nature, especially birds (like The Fighting #Capercaillies, 1886 – perhaps the most famous Finnish painting), like his older brothers.

Wilhelm von Wright (1810–1887) was a Finnish painter. He was born into a wealthy family (owners of #Haminalahti manor) in Kuopio. Wilhelm traveled to Sweden to assist his brother Magnus to complete a book on Swedish birds – Svenska foglar. Soon he was appointed as a drawer to Royal Swedish Academy of Arts. Wilhelm's technical skills in drawing and painting were considered the best among von Wright brothers. Wilhelm von Wright is famous for his work on nature, especially birds like his…

Ferdinand von Wright: The Fighting Capercaillies, 1886. #Ateneum Art Museum. The painting ranks very high among Finland's most popular items. It is probably the most copied work of art in Finland.

Magnus von Wright (1805–1868) was a Finnish painter and ornithologist. He was born into a wealthy family (owners of #Haminalahti manor) in Kuopio, went to study in Stockholm and returned to work as a cartographer, taxidermist and art instructor. Magnus von Wright is famous for his work on nature, especially birds, like his younger brothers.

Wilhelm von Wright: Quay and Boat Shed, ca. 1850. #Ateneum Art Museum. The middle one of von Wright brothers suffered a stroke in early 1850s, which made him almost completely unable to work. Series of sixty lithographs to Skandinaviens fiskar (Fishes of Scandinavia), 1857 became his most important illustration work.

Pekka Halonen: Lynx Hunter, 1900. #Ateneum Art Museum. It was one of two paintings (the other being Washing on the Ice, 1900) by Pekka #Halonen to be featured at Exposition #Universelle 1900 aka the World's Fair in Paris.

Juhani Aho (1861–1921) was a Finnish author and journalist. He moved to Kuopio to study in senior high school. Also there, 10 years after graduating, he fell in love with #Venny Soldan-Brofeldt, whom he married in less than a year. Aho was one of the founders of Päivälehti, the predecessor of the biggest newspaper in Finland today, Helsingin Sanomat.

Maria Jotuni (1880–1943) was a notable Finnish author and a playwright. Maria Jotuni was born in Kuopio, where she also has a school named after her.