The Ateneum Art Museum-the most frequently visited museum in the country-holds Finland's oldest and largest art collection. This new beautifully illustrated book looks at the collection through a social lens, addressing how historical and political events have influenced art and artists as well as museum work and acquisitions for the collection. Starting with the year 1809, the storylines run through to the seventies. In addition, it covers the story of the Ateneum building itself as the center of the Finnish art scene for the last 127 years, not only the home of collections but also of two significant art schools. The catalogue offers readers sixteen newly commissioned thematic articles written by museum specialists along with five short stories by contemporary Finnish author. (Swedish edition ISBN 978-3-7757-4136-1; Finnish edition ISBN 978-3-7757-4137-8) Exhibition: Ateneum / Finnish National Gallery, New opening: 14.3.2016

Text by: Erkki Anttonen, Timo Huusko, Maritta Mellais, Riitta Ojanpera, Hanna-Leena Paloposki