Illustration: A V Blomstedt. Horses rug, 1900.
At the turn of the twentieth century, there were a number of artists in Finland who produced both contemporary and traditionally sourced tapestry and rug design work; among these were Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Timo Sarpaneva and Alfred Vaino Blomstedt.
Blomstedt was a trained fine artist who had studied both in Finland and in Paris, but he was also an illustrator, designer and textile artist. His work within textiles was chiefly concentrated within the medium of tapestry production, though he did produce a number of rug designs as well.
Rug production was considered part of the traditional culture of Finland and was resuscitated within the Finnish Arts & Crafts movement. Finland did not gain its independence from Russia until the end of the First World War. Therefore, any highlighting of traditional skills was considered patriotic within Finland, but potentially dangerous political stirring within the Russian Empire as a whole.
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft, in which Blomstedt served as artistic director from 1900 onwards, was intimately involved in the Finnish rediscovery of their traditional culture through native crafts. Admittedly, not all rug production within Finland could be considered authentic to old traditions, but the romantic ideal of a separate Finnish culture from that of Russia, appealed to many within Finnish society and a number were more than happy to buy into the traditions, whether real or partially imaginary.
Although Blomstedt is more recognised today for his Symbolist inspired fine art work, the output he achieved in tapestry and rug design, cannot be dismissed. Working through the Friends of Finnish Handicraft with numerous other artists, designers and crafts people, Blomstedt helped to put Finnish self-determination on the agenda, and although considered an integral part of the Russian Empire, the Finns were able to mould a separate identity for themselves that put them in stead when they did eventually win their independence.
Further reading links:
The golden age: Finnish art, 1850 to 1907
Bringing Art to Life: Turn-of-the-Century Finnish Artists' Homes
Finnish design 1875-1975: 100 years of Finnish industrial design : Finnish Society of Crafts and Design 1875-1975
Scandinavian Design (Taschen 25)
Finland Living Design
Finnish Arts
Finnish Summer Houses
Finnish Design: Facts and Fancy
Kalevala Koru: Ancient Finnish design
Finland: Nature, Design, Architecture
THE LANGUAGE OF WOOD; Wood in Finnish Sculpture, Design and Architecture
Blomstedt was a trained fine artist who had studied both in Finland and in Paris, but he was also an illustrator, designer and textile artist. His work within textiles was chiefly concentrated within the medium of tapestry production, though he did produce a number of rug designs as well.
Rug production was considered part of the traditional culture of Finland and was resuscitated within the Finnish Arts & Crafts movement. Finland did not gain its independence from Russia until the end of the First World War. Therefore, any highlighting of traditional skills was considered patriotic within Finland, but potentially dangerous political stirring within the Russian Empire as a whole.
The Friends of Finnish Handicraft, in which Blomstedt served as artistic director from 1900 onwards, was intimately involved in the Finnish rediscovery of their traditional culture through native crafts. Admittedly, not all rug production within Finland could be considered authentic to old traditions, but the romantic ideal of a separate Finnish culture from that of Russia, appealed to many within Finnish society and a number were more than happy to buy into the traditions, whether real or partially imaginary.
Although Blomstedt is more recognised today for his Symbolist inspired fine art work, the output he achieved in tapestry and rug design, cannot be dismissed. Working through the Friends of Finnish Handicraft with numerous other artists, designers and crafts people, Blomstedt helped to put Finnish self-determination on the agenda, and although considered an integral part of the Russian Empire, the Finns were able to mould a separate identity for themselves that put them in stead when they did eventually win their independence.
Further reading links:
The golden age: Finnish art, 1850 to 1907
Bringing Art to Life: Turn-of-the-Century Finnish Artists' Homes
Finnish design 1875-1975: 100 years of Finnish industrial design : Finnish Society of Crafts and Design 1875-1975
Scandinavian Design (Taschen 25)
Finland Living Design
Finnish Arts
Finnish Summer Houses
Finnish Design: Facts and Fancy
Kalevala Koru: Ancient Finnish design
Finland: Nature, Design, Architecture
THE LANGUAGE OF WOOD; Wood in Finnish Sculpture, Design and Architecture
