Poetic Reality – 1920–40s art, design, fashion and gardens

In the spring and summer of 2026 Villa Gyllenberg will display an exhibition on the romantic and cheerful art, fashion, design and gardens of the 1920–1940s. Many artists and designers longed for beauty, ornaments and vibrant colours during the interwar period. Flowers, gardens and paradise were common motifs.

One of the exhibition’s main themes is French post-impressionism from the 1920–1940s, the so called “painters of the poetic reality” (Les peintres de la réalité poétique). These painters would paint art in a poetic and cheerful style, taking impressions from Henri Matisse and Pierre Bonnard. Many Finnish artists who spent time in Paris, such as Tove Jansson, Birger Carlstedt and Yngve Bäck, were influenced by this art.

The exhibition will consist of Finnish and French art, dresses, furniture and gardens.

The exhibition is based on a research project on new perspectives on the 1920–1940s art, fashion, design and gardens, as well as the history of modern art and design. Experts working on the exhibition research project and publication are Professor Ville Lukkarinen, docent Maija Mäkikalli, Ph.D. Julia Donner, MA Janne Arnesen. The exhibition is curated by Villa Gyllenberg’s Chief Curator Lotta Nylund.

The exhibition includes works by following artists and designers: Väinö Blomstedt, Carl-Johan Boman, Maurice Brianchon, Rut Bryk, Yngve Bäck, Birger Carlstedt, Jules Cavaillès, Marcus Collin, Gösta Diehl, Magnus Enckell, Arthur Fages, Hjalmar Hagelstam, Adrien Holy, Tove Jansson, Unto Kaipainen, Birger Kaipiainen, Marie Laurencin, Raymond Legueult, Jacques Lestrille, Roger Limouse, Marguerite Louppe, Armas Mikola, Roland Oudot, André Planson, Maurice-George Poncelet, Émile Sabouraud, Juho Salminen, Helene Schjerfbeck, Vilho Sjöström, Venny Soldan-Brofeldt, Paavo Tynell, Sam Vanni, Carl Wargh.

Picture: Marie Laurencin, Portrait of a Young Woman, 1923, Sara Hildén Foundation / Sara Hildén Art Museum. Photo: Jussi Koivunen.