Summer Evening 1883

Albert Edelfelt, a Finnish painter, captured this 'Summer Evening' using oil on canvas; although undated, it reflects artistic concerns around the late 19th century. Edelfelt belonged to a generation of artists who sought to define Finnish identity through its landscape and people, at a time when Finland was an autonomous Grand Duchy within the Russian Empire. This work exemplifies that, depicting a serene Nordic summer night, the kind of scene which could evoke feelings of national belonging. The girls in the painting are dressed in clothes that reflect the social conventions of the time, subtly hinting at class distinctions. One might consider this painting in the context of the Dusseldorf school and the wider European Realist movement, both of which contributed to the development of landscape and genre painting. To fully appreciate this artwork, one should also explore Finnish history and its cultural institutions. Detailed archival research and analysis of period literature will help to further understand the role this artwork plays in constructing Finnish national identity.