Though normally characterized in terms of poetry, music and dance, the art of Ellen Thesleff may also be described as an enigmatic portrayal of the dream of life that transcends the commonplace. Particularly in her later works she wiped away the burden of earthiness from her color palette, focusing on airy, layered color fantasies of no set form. If we insist on linking it to any art historical style or movement, then this period may be described as the futurism of Ellen Thesleff, as everything in these works is in motion, and indeed multidimensional.

Combat evokes the mood of Finland’s Continuation War of 1941-44. One Finnish inspiration for this subject seems to be Akseli Gallen-Kallela’s Defense of ...