Arunån; Amberley, ådal 1911

'Arunån; Amberley, ådal' is a landscape painting executed in the pointillist style by Alfred William Finch, an artist born in Belgium of British parents. Finch, working at the turn of the 20th century, had a keen interest in the social reform and utopian ideas which were circulating amongst artists and intellectuals at this time. In 1902, he moved to Finland with his wife and became deeply involved with the artistic community there, influenced by the Finnish landscape and its unique cultural identity. This artwork might be read as a study of light and color, but it's also a glimpse into a time of rapid change and the search for new ways of seeing and being in the world. Finch's pointillist technique, with its emphasis on individual dots coming together to form a whole, mirrors the era’s utopian ideals: a vision of society composed of unique individuals united in harmony. As you view this image, perhaps you’ll reflect on how historical context shapes artistic expression and its impact on our own identities.