Aino Myth (triptych)

In the story depicted in this set of three panels, or triptych, we see the sage Väinämöinen wooing a young maiden named Aino. She does not want to marry the sage but rather drowns herself. The first scene of the story is shown on the left, the second on the right and the final scene - in which Väinämöinen still seeks to capture Aino, who has turned into a water sprite - in the centre. The artist made two versions of this, his first large Kalevala-themed painting. The model for Aino in this work was the artist's newly-wed wife, Mary. The frame, designed by Gallen-Kallela himself, features quotes from the fourth and fifth poem of the Kalevala that the painting is based on.

In this painting, the artist wanted to create an allegory of Finland - from its landscape and mythology to its folk art and Karelianism.

Suggested listening (streaming mp3, 9 minutes): Jean Sibelius: Finlandia op. 26