View Over a Lake at Sunset

Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) was Finland’s most famous progressive artist around 1900 and a major figure in international modern art. The exact setting of this work remains unidentified, though it was likely created after Gallen-Kallela’s visit to Lake Keitele in the summer of 1904—a trip that offered him personal renewal after an intense and exhausting period of travel. This experience gave rise to four versions of Lake Keitele: two held in private collections, one in the Lahti Art Museum, and one in the National Gallery, London. The expressive, loosely rendered cloud formations in the present painting are characteristic of Gallen-Kallela’s style during this period, echoed in a canvas of nearly identical size housed in the Gallen-Kallela Museum.

Beautiful, isn't it? This painting is featured in our Weekly Desk Calendar for 2026! Check it out here, it's on presale now :) 

P.S. From Turner to Dalí, discover the finest lake paintings in art history!