Akseli Gallen-Kallela “Lake Keitel”, 1905

Akseli Gallen-Kallela was a Finnish painter who is best known for his illustrations of the Kalevala, the Finnish national epic. His work was considered very important for the Finnish national identity. He changed his name from Gallen to Gallen-Kallela in 1907. He was born Axel Waldemar Gallen in Pori, Finland, in a Swedish-speaking family.