Bishop Henry killed by Lalli 

Curator: Welcome. Before us is "Bishop Henry Killed by Lalli," an oil painting by Albert Edelfelt. It appears to depict a rather grim moment in Finnish history. Editor: Brrr, I can feel the chill just looking at it! That desolate snowscape under that sickly-sweet sunset... it's unsettling. It gives me the sense of a brutal story. The scale almost makes me a witness! Curator: It's meant to be evocative. Edelfelt was working in a Romantic style here, drawing upon historical events but certainly embellishing the drama for emotional impact. The painting depicts the alleged murder of Bishop Henry, the patron saint of Finland, by a peasant named Lalli. This event is rooted in the Christianization of Finland during the Middle Ages. Editor: And Lalli looks none too happy. He's all bundled up in furs, clutching his axe on those giant skis. Honestly, he looks like he's just really committed to Finnish winter sports, which is darkly funny given the context. I see an halo, so it might be what sets the mood in that painting: there is literally heaven on the other side. It creates a rather violent mix of heaven and earth. Curator: Yes, you have a keen eye: the presence of that barely-there halo tells us that this isn't just a murder scene. It's the martyrdom of a saint. The halo serves a crucial propagandistic function, even this work—many centuries later. Edelfelt painted this in an era of burgeoning Finnish nationalism; therefore, "Bishop Henry Killed by Lalli," must be understood through the lenses of social, political, and cultural change. The figure of Bishop Henry also speaks to power struggles between the church and the local populations. Editor: "Martyrdom." See, that sounds about right: you need art and blood in any good origin story. I wonder how Finns view the picture, that artist, Lalli, and what really happened out there, centuries ago, alone in the snow! So what, no hard feelings! And is that a horse-drawn sled flying away with their loot? Hilarious. A complete clown show. A holy show. Curator: That flying scene and perspective indeed add a comical if bitter, undertone... Editor: Edelfelt manages to stir complicated feelings from a gruesome, and seemingly historical story! The contrast, with its stark beauty, is precisely why art grips us. Curator: Indeed, a captivating painting, not only for art lovers but for a society and for everyone who tries to see through this keyhole of time and space.