Sketch of a stained glass window for the Shell window of Turku Cathedral " 1923

Magnus Enckell made this sketch for a stained-glass window with ink and watercolour, and you can really see the hand of the artist in the brushwork. It’s not tight, it’s loose and expressive, with areas left unfinished, like a map of the artist’s thinking as he worked. The colours are soft, mostly blues and browns with touches of red and gold, giving it an ethereal quality. Look closely at the central panel. The figures are rendered in muted tones that contrast with the vivid, almost jewel-like blues of the tree at the centre of the composition, making the whole piece feel luminous, alive. It’s like Enckell isn’t trying to hide the process; he’s inviting us to see how it all comes together. This reminds me a bit of Emil Nolde’s religious paintings, not in style, but in its raw and emotional intensity. Ultimately, this sketch is a testament to the power of art to convey complex ideas, and emotions without needing to be overly precise.