Alaston 1910

Tyko Sallinen’s ‘Alaston’ is a painting of a nude figure made with oil on canvas, though when is not specified, the date remains unknown. There’s a certain honesty to the way the artist has handled the paint here. The brushstrokes are visible, and the colors are muted, creating a somber and introspective mood. The figure is rendered in a limited palette of whites, blues, and pinks, with touches of red on the lips and the suggestion of a nipple. The way Sallinen drags the brush across the surface, allowing the texture of the canvas to peek through, gives the painting a raw, unfinished quality. The marks around the figure, particularly on the right-hand side, are loose and gestural. They don’t define a specific space, but rather evoke a feeling of being in the moment, as the artist captures the essence of the figure before them. Sallinen reminds me a little of Paula Modersohn-Becker, another artist who wasn’t afraid to show the messy, vulnerable side of human experience. Art is all about embracing the unknown, isn't it?