Enckell, Magnus (1870-1925) - 1914 - Fauno

Knut Magnus Enckell (1870-1925) was a Finnish painter and printmaker. He was born in Helsinki, Finland, and studied art in Paris, France, where he was influenced by the Art Nouveau movement. Enckell's paintings often depicted dreamy and mystical scenes, with an emphasis on colour and form. He also worked as a book illustrator and designed stained glass windows. Enckell was an important figure in the Finnish art scene of the early 20th century and was a member of the influential artists' group Septem. He died of pneumonia at the age of 49. Enckell was born into a family of artists, his father and grandfather both being painters. He showed an early interest in art and at the age of 16 began to study at the drawing school of the Finnish Art Society in Helsinki. In 1899 he travelled to Paris to study at the Académie Colarossi and later at the École des Beaux-Arts. Enckell's early works were influenced by the Symbolist movement, with a focus on themes of death and the afterlife. However, he soon moved towards Art Nouveau, with its emphasis on organic forms and decorative patterns. Enckell's paintings from this period often feature graceful female figures in flowing robes, surrounded by flowers and foliage. As well as painting, Enckell worked as a book illustrator, designing covers and illustrations for works by authors such as Edgar Allan Poe and Charles Baudelaire. He also designed stained glass windows for churches and public buildings in Finland. Enckell was a member of the artists' group Septem, which included some of the most important Finnish artists of the early 20th century, such as Akseli Gallen-Kallela and Hugo Simberg. Septem was founded in 1909 with the aim of promoting modern art in Finland and organising exhibitions of their work. Enckell's career was cut short by his early death in 1925. He had been suffering from tuberculosis for several years and died of pneumonia at the age of 49. Despite his relatively short career, Enckell left a lasting mark on Finnish art and is remembered today as one of the country's most important modernist painters.