International studio (33.1907/1908(1908))

Victor Wtisterholm, Finnish Landscape Painter

VICTOR WESTERHOLM. A FIN-
NISH LANDSCAPE PAINTER.
BY COUNT LOUIS SPARRE.
The long, dark and dreary winter months of
northern countries would be unbearable were it
not for the snow. The white mantle of Old
Boreas retains and diffuses the scanty light
given by the low-rising sun, intercepted as it is by
the thick roof of heavy clouds, that as a rule during
a large part of the winter keeps the star of the day
out of sight. The snow is the poetry of our winters
and has its poets. Among these, one of the best
interpreters of the beauties of winter landscape is
without doubt Victor Westerholm. Before his advent
few, if any, had penetrated the soul of winter and
unveiled the secret beauties, but little known and
appreciated, of his native country, Finland. But he
is a modest man, far too modest. At present he
is scarcely known outside a narrow circle of admire s
among his fellow-artists and countrymen. He
plainly deserves, however,
to be better known, and
it would be of the greatest
benefit to art lovers, and
especially to those who find
their greatest enjoyment in
landscape painting, should
he only send his pictures
abroad to be admired and
valued according to their
merits.
Westerholm is conscien-
tious and skilful, as well as
an earnest worker. His
hand is directed by true
artistic feeling and a poet’s
vision, and he is thus en-
abled to appreciate and
express as well the beauty
of a dark dull snowy land-
scape with rushing black
waters as the gay and in-
vigorating aspects of a cold,
clear winter day with its
glistening snow fields, its
delicate blue sky and warm
glowing colours reflected
from red or yellow cottages
scattered here and there
among the firs. But Wester-
holm is not only an inter-
preter of winter’s beauties,
he likes also to realise the
XXXIII. No. 130.—December, 1907.

dreams of northern summer nights, of glowing sun-
sets among the thousand islands of his native coast.
Victor Westerholm was born at Abo, in i860.
He commenced his studies at that period when
supremacy in ait was removed from Germany to
France, when the traditions and style of the
Diisseldorf school had to give way to the young
and sound school of French landscape painters.
The stream of foreign students changed its course
at this time, and Paris became the centre of art
teaching. Westerholm’s first steps in the thorny
path of art were lead by Eugen Diicker in Diissel-
dorf. Later on he became a pupil of Jules Leffevre
at the Academie Julian in Paris. It is permissible to
suppose that this double training has been of great
advantage to him. The German thoroughness gave
him a steady foundation for good craftsmanship,
while on the other hand there can be no doubt
that the broadened views on art of the French
realistic school developed his fine qualities as a
colourist and honest observer of nature.

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH
91

PORTRAIT OF VICTOR WESTERHOLM