Gems of Art History｜Women Artists Exhibition in Helsinki

The Ateneum Art Museum, Finland's national gallery, typically showcases landscapes and modernist works that shaped Finnish identity. But now, its third floor hosts something extraordinary—a spotlight on 19th-century women artists from Scandinavia, the Baltics, Poland, and Germany. 🎨✨ These creators battled systemic barriers: • Denied free art academy access (unlike men) 🚫🎓 • Restricted from traveling alone for inspiration ✈️🚷 • Overlooked in history/religious painting—a "male" domain ⛪👨‍🎨 Yet their work shines equally bright: Self-portraits with defiant gazes 👩‍🎨🔥 Large-scale historical scenes (traditionally male-dominated) 🏛️💪 Landscapes painted against all odds 🌊🌿 One artist, Victoria Åberg, wrote in 1886: "We pay for art lessons... while men study for free—with studios, heating, and models! How is this fair?" 💸😤 Her words echo the era's paradox: national art movements flourished... while women climbed institutional walls. Don’t Miss: 🐚 Elizabeth Jerichau-Baumann’s Mermaid (inspired by Warsaw’s coat of arms + Hans Christian Andersen!)—stormy seas, moonlit waves, and a direct, haunting gaze that defies tradition. 🌊👁️ 📍 Ateneum, Helsinki 📅 Exhibition dates: [Insert if available] #ArtHerstory #WomenInArt #NordicArt #HelsinkiMuseums #UnseenMasterpieces #ArtAndFeminism