01 Work, The Art of War, Hugo Simberg's The Wounded Angel, with footnotes

Hugo Simberg  (1873–1917)

The Wounded Angel, c. 1903

Oil on canvas

height: 127 cm (50 in); width: 154 cm (60.6 in)

Ateneum

Two sullen boys carry an angel on a stretcher. The angel's wing has been wounded, and there is a bandage over the eyes. This painting was voted Finland's best-loved work of art, speaks to the viewer in countless ways - there are as many interpretations as there are viewers. This is probably exactly the intention of the artist, as when he displayed the painting for the first time there was simply a long dash where there should have been a title. It took Simberg several years to finish this work. The first elements can be found in a sketchbook dating from 1898. Other sketches and photographs reflect the various phases of the composition. The angel always remains the central figure, and the scene of the painting a real place in Helsinki. The painting became an immediate success, and Simberg was awarded the State Prize for his work. More on this painting

Hugo Gerhard Simberg (24 June 1873 – 12 July 1917) was a Finnish symbolist painter and graphic artist.

Simberg was born in Hamina, Finland, the son of Colonel Nicolai Simberg and Ebba Matilda Simberg . In 1891, at the age of 18, he enrolled at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art, and he also studied at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Society from 1893 to 1895. Then, in 1895, he decided to become the private pupil of Akseli Gallen-Kallela at his wilderness studio Kalela in Ruovesi. He studied under Gallen-Kallela for three periods between 1895 and 1897.

In 1896, Simberg went to London, and in 1897 to Paris and Italy. During these years he exhibited several works at the Finnish Artists' autumn exhibitions, which were well received. Critical success led to his being made a member of the Finnish Art Association and to his being appointed to teach at the Drawing School of the Viipuri Friends of Art.

In 1904, he was commissioned to decorate the interior of St John's church in Tampere (now Tampere Cathedral), a project which he carried out with Magnus Enckell between 1904 and 1906. At the turn of the year 1907-08 he made a short visit to the United States. 

From around 1907 to 1913, he taught at the Drawing School of the Finnish Art Association at Ateneum.

He died in Ähtäri on 12 July 1917. More on Hugo Gerhard Simberg

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