The exhibition offers a broad overview of artistic developments in the countries of the North and presents works by the most important painters such as Anna Ancher, Peder Severin Krøyer, Bruno Liljefors, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Helene Schjerfbeck and Christian Skredsvig. The show is also exceptional because the 70 or so paintings come primarily from a top-class North German art collection to which the MKdW has exclusive access. Many of the works are being shown to the public for the first time.
In Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland, Midsummer is celebrated with big, exuberant festivals. The clear light on the long days around the summer solstice and the so-called White Nights bathe the landscapes in a unique atmosphere. In the period between 1880 and 1920, when modern Scandinavian and Finnish art was at its peak, artists developed a new visual language that gave expression to the peculiarities and emotions of their countries of origin. Realism, Naturalism, Impressionism and Symbolism were the new trends. Open-air painting promoted a perception of one's own time that was oriented towards reality, yet subjective.
July 6, 2025 to January 11, 2026
