The abduction of Sampo 1905

Akseli Gallen-Kallela made this painting, The Abduction of Sampo, with oil paint; the colours are all quite muted and earthy—lots of browns and tans—and the brushstrokes feel urgent. I can almost feel the artist grappling with the canvas, trying to capture this chaotic scene of figures in motion! I bet Gallen-Kallela was really in the zone when he painted this; trying to convey this sense of drama and movement. The paint looks like it’s applied in layers, building up texture and depth. Look at how the artist uses these thick strokes to define the muscles of the figures, really giving them a sense of physicality and strength. You can see how he focused on the human form and how it strained under pressure. I wonder if he ever looked at Delacroix? There is something in the energy of this painting that reminds me that artists are always in conversation with one another, borrowing and building on each other's ideas. Ultimately, a painting like this, is an ongoing conversation between the artist, the subject, and us, the viewers.