Kalela

Having searched far and wide, Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865-1931), one of Finland's best-loved painters, found the perfect spot for a new wilderness studio at Ruhala in Ruovesi. Inspired by fine Karelian architecture, the artist designed the building down to the last detail and helped to build it in 1894-95. Kalela is an important place both in Gallen-Kallela's work and in Finnish art history in general. The building itself paved the way for Finnish Art Nouveau and National Romantic architecture. Gallen-Kallela's Kalevala paintings and the woodcuts that started the golden age of Finnish graphic art were completed in Kalela. In 1865-1904, Kalela was the home of the Gallen-Kallela family. Even later, the painter used it as a studio.

Kalela is not open in summer 2009.

More information: http://www.kalela.net