The Race

Tyko Sallinen's "The Race" (Kilpajuoksu in Finnish) from 1917 is a powerful example of the Finnish Expressionism he championed. As a founder of the November Group, Sallinen was at the forefront of Finnish modernism, emphasizing raw emotion and individual expression over traditional academic styles. This painting, created in the same year as his "The Tradesman's Daughters," likely showcases his characteristic bold brushstrokes and vibrant, often untamed, color palette. Sallinen was known for depicting the Finnish landscape and its people with unprecedented candor, rejecting idealized portrayals. "The Race" would have contributed to his reputation as an artist who brought a new, intensely personal and emotional vision to Finnish art, moving away from more romantic or realistic approaches. His work often explored themes of struggle, vitality, and the human condition, reflecting his own tumultuous life and strict Laestadian upbringing.