Biography Magnus Enckell

the awakening (1893)



the faun (1914)

during second stay in paris in 1893, painted awakening, in used rigorous composition , transparent colors suggest spiritual atmosphere; and, through contact swedish artists, o. sager-nelson , i. agueli, deepened interest in mysticism.

enckell s narkissos

enckell homosexual, seems indicated in erotic portraits quite uninhibited time. routledge s who’s in gay , lesbian history puts it, love affairs men have not been denied ... enckell s naked men , boys openly erotic , sensual. .

in 1894 , 1895 enckell traveled milan, florence, ravenna, siena , venice, inner conflicts reflected in art. in 1898 taught himself fresco , tempera techniques in florence, studying work of masaccio , fra angelico.

the years in italy gave work greater range of colors , more optimistic foundation. in first years of twentieth century, under influence of post impressionism, developed brighter, more colorful palette. example of series, bathers, in dark, lively colors. verner thomé , ellen thesleff, enckell founded group septem , in artists shared beliefs came together.

altarpiece painting in tampere cathedral

1907 enckell executed commission altarpiece of tampere cathedral. fresco, more 10 meters wide , 4 meters high, shows, in subdued colors, resurrection of people of races. in middle of painting 2 men walk hand in hand.

from 1901 onwards enckell spent many summers on suursaari island, painted boys on shore (1910). organised exhibitions of finnish art in berlin (1903) , paris (1908), , of french , belgian art in helsinki (1904). chaired finnish arts association 1915 1918, , elected member of fine art academy of finland in 1922.

enckell died in stockholm in 1925. funeral national event. buried in native village in finland.