Luonnos Nylands Nationin Veljesvala -maalausta varten 1910 - 1911

Magnus Enckell made this sketch in preparation for a painting titled "The Fraternal Pledge of the Nylands Nation," though the final painting never materialised. As an institution, the ‘Nations’ were Swedish-speaking student societies at the Imperial Alexander University in Helsinki. Founded in the 17th century, they played a key role in the development of Finnish political and cultural identity. Enckell received this commission during a period of Russification, when Finland’s autonomy within the Russian empire was being eroded. The theme of fraternal bonding, reminiscent of a classical oath-taking scene, evokes the kind of patriotic sentiment associated with Finnish nationalism. Art historians have sometimes read Enckell’s works as coded expressions of his own homosexuality. Here, the homoerotic undertones of male bonding are difficult to miss. Understanding this sketch requires knowledge of Finnish history, student societies, and Enckell’s biography. The role of the art historian is to bring these strands together, showing how art is often embedded in complex social and political contexts.