Art with a large and small brush

The paintings selected for the exhibition are works by Finnish artists born in the 19th century. These artists can be found in the artists' matrices maintained by the Finnish Artists' Association.

The paintings depict Finnish nature, landscapes, people and life. The collection, mainly oil paintings, presents the works of more than 50 artists. Among the most prominent artists on display are Verner Thome, Eero Nelimarkka, Jalmari Ruokokoski, Aarne Alanko and Helene Schjerfbeck.

An ex-libris, or book owner's mark, is usually a small print on paper that reads "ex libris" in Latin alongside the owner's name. The book owner usually affixes the stamp to the inside cover of the book. Ex-libris is a combination of literature and miniature art. The stamp is often symbolic of things that are important to the owner in life, such as profession, hobbies, home, family, nature or values.

The Finnish Exlibris Association has endeavoured to catalogue all exlibris that has come to its attention since it was founded in 1946. In 1958, the Society began to publish annual ex-libris folders, each containing a selection of 10 specimens from different individuals. All 650 of these ex-libraries are on display in this exhibition.