Pekka Halonen - Talvipäivä 

Pekka Halonen painted this oil on canvas, called "Talvipäivä," Finnish for "Winter Day," in 1905. It depicts a snowshoe hare in a snow-covered forest. Halonen was one of the first Finnish artists to focus on the Finnish landscape as a subject in itself, as it had previously only been a backdrop to other themes. His attention to the natural environment aligns with a growing sense of national identity in Finland at the beginning of the 20th century, as well as a desire to distinguish itself from its Swedish and Russian neighbors. This patriotic sentiment was reflected in the art world through the promotion of Finnish art and artists, as well as the establishment of art schools and museums dedicated to Finnish art. To understand this moment and how this artwork fits into it, we can refer to exhibition catalogues, academic journals, and other primary source materials. Through these resources, we can develop a deeper understanding of the social and institutional context in which this art was produced and consumed.