Ellen Thesleff (Finland, 1869-1954)

 
 Self portrait (1894-1895)

oil on canvas 31.5 x 23.5 cm

Ellen Thesleff (1869–1954) was a Finnish expressionist painter, celebrated as one of the foremost modernist artists in Finland. Born in Helsinki on October 5, 1869, she was the eldest daughter among five siblings, and her father was an amateur painter. Thesleff’s artistic journey took her from Finland to Paris, where she honed her skills at the Finnish Art Society Drawing School (now known as the Finnish Academy of Fine Arts) under the guidance of Gunnar Berndtson. In 1891, she ventured to Paris and enrolled at the Académie Colarossi.

Throughout her life, Thesleff divided her time between Finland, France, and Italy. She visited Italy for the first time in 1894 and maintained a family estate in Murole, Ruovesi. Despite her travels, she never married.

Thesleff’s artistic evolution is fascinating. Initially, she worked on symbolist paintings, influenced by artists like Eugène Carrière. However, she asserted that her greatest inspiration came from Édouard Manet. As her career progressed, she transitioned to expressionism and modernism, with a particular focus on landscapes.

In 1949, her paintings garnered acclaim at a major exhibition of Nordic art in Copenhagen. Her powerful use of lines and dynamic compositions resonated with viewers. Notably, Thesleff was part of the 2018 exhibit titled “Women in Paris 1850-1900”.

To explore more of Ellen Thesleff’s work, you can visit the Ateneum museum or view her self-portraits on Archives of Women Artists