Wäino Aaltonen
Wäinö Waldemar Aaltonen (8 March 1894 Karinainen - 30 May 1966 Helsinki) was one of the most prominent Finnish sculptors of his time. Public sculptures were important national symbols in the young state, and Aaltonen dominated public sculpture almost exclusively from the mid-1920s until the end of the 1950s. At the time, he was one of the most important sculptors in the Nordic countries, alongside Finland.
Most of Aaltonen's known sculpture represents the understated classicist realism that was the dominant style of Finnish public art in the 1920s and 1930s, but he also applied expressionism, cubism, art deco and other international and modernist trends. In addition to bronze sculpture, Aaltonen introduced granite as a sculptural material and also developed the use of wood in sculpture, often finished with gold leaf.
The best-known sculptures are monumental and often include patriotic heroic content. Yet many of the sculptures were characterised by a delicate and lyrical touch. To counterbalance the realism, he reduced and simplified the forms. Aaltonen's most significant public sculptures include the Paavo Nurmi statue, the Work and the Future sculpture series in the Chamber of Deputies and the Aleksis Kivi memorial statue in Helsinki.
In terms of materials, Aaltonen used bronze and marble in his works, as well as wood, among other materials. He was a pioneer in the use of Finnish granite.
Most of Aaltonen's known sculpture represents the understated classicist realism that was the dominant style of Finnish public art in the 1920s and 1930s, but he also applied expressionism, cubism, art deco and other international and modernist trends. In addition to bronze sculpture, Aaltonen introduced granite as a sculptural material and also developed the use of wood in sculpture, often finished with gold leaf.
The best-known sculptures are monumental and often include patriotic heroic content. Yet many of the sculptures were characterised by a delicate and lyrical touch. To counterbalance the realism, he reduced and simplified the forms. Aaltonen's most significant public sculptures include the Paavo Nurmi statue, the Work and the Future sculpture series in the Chamber of Deputies and the Aleksis Kivi memorial statue in Helsinki.
In terms of materials, Aaltonen used bronze and marble in his works, as well as wood, among other materials. He was a pioneer in the use of Finnish granite.