Lemminkäinen's Mother
Akseli Gallen-Kallela · 1897
Why it's great
A mother pulls her son's body from the river of the underworld, with a rake, and she patiently brings him back to life. Gallen-Kallela, a Finnish painter, illustrated the old epic poem the Kalevala. The painting is dreamy and powerful. It's a symbol of a mother's love.
Where to see it
📍 AteneumHelsinki, Finland
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Akseli Gallen-Kallela was born in Pori, Finland, and became the country's most famous painter. He painted scenes from the Kalevala, Finland's national epic, and studied in Paris. He lived in Finland and traveled to Africa and the United States. He died in Stockholm in 1931.
