Pekka Halonen at the Petit Palais: A Rare Celebration of Finnish Art in Paris

From 4 November 2025 to 22 February 2026, the Petit Palais museum presents an exceptional retrospective of Pekka Halonen (1865–1933), a central figure in Finnish art. This rare occasion offers Parisian audiences the chance to immerse themselves in Halonen’s deeply sensitive and atmospheric work, shaped by his lifelong connection to the Finnish landscape.

Halonen trained in Paris in the late 19th century, studying under Paul Gauguin. While developing his distinctive style, he absorbed contemporary influences from japonism, plein air painting, and symbolism. Nicknamed “the painter of snow”, he excelled in capturing the silent poetry of the Finnish winter. Rooted in his native land, he established his studio on the shores of Lake Tuusula in a house he named Halosenniemi. This home, which became a vibrant hub of artistic life, was both a personal refuge and a lasting source of inspiration.

The exhibition brings together many of his most iconic works, inviting visitors into the still, luminous world Halonen captured with such care. It also offers a timely reflection on our relationship with nature, and the urgency of protecting fragile northern landscapes in a changing climate.

This exhibition is organized in partnership with the Ateneum Art Museum – Finnish National Gallery (Helsinki).

Institut finlandais is delighted to collaborate with the Petit Palais throughout the exhibition as part of its winter programme, A Season in Dialogue with Pekka Halonen. On 31 January 2026, a discussion titled Pekka Halonen en héritage will take place at the Petit Palais with textile artist Kustaa Saksi, moderated by Tuula Yrjö-Koskinen, Director of the Institut finlandais. This event echoes the exhibition currently on view at Institut finlandais, featuring a monumental work Roots specially commissioned from Saksi.

 

 

Around the Exhibition: A Rich Programme at Petit Palais

The Petit Palais offers a wide range of events to extend the discovery of Halonen’s art and Finnish culture:

  • Olfactory experience: three custom scent installations inspired by Halonen’s paintings are conceived in collaboration with dsm-firmenich.
  • Meditative walk: creative soundscapes invite visitors to slow down and engage with the works in a mindful way.

Family events

  • Moomin Weekend (ages 3+; Saturday 6 and Sunday 7 December, from 10am to 5pm): fun activities for families inspired by Tove Jansson’s beloved characters.
  • “Snow” workshop (ages 3+): create snowy landscapes together on Wednesdays and school holidays at 2:30 pm, and on Sundays at 1:30 pm.

An event for youths (18-35 years)

  • Slow Day (Sunday 18 January 2025): a day of reconnection with Finnish nature, including meditative walk, yoga, film screenings, and a concert (activities free with exhibition ticket).

Talks

  • Thursday 6 November 2025 at 12:30am: inaugural conference with the exhibition’s curators: Anne-Charlotte Cathelineau, Chief Curator of Heritage at the Petit Palais, and Anna-Maria von Bonsdorff, Director of the Ateneum Art Museum, Finnish National Gallery.
  • Tuesday 18 November 2025 at 12:30am: a discussion between Daphné Bugey, Head Perfumer at dsm-firmenich, and Anne-Charlotte Cathelineau, Chief Curator of Heritage at the Petit Palais and co-curator of the exhibition.
  • Thursday 4 December 2025 at 12:30am: “Pekka Halonen, l’élève de Paul Gauguin,” by Laura Guttman, curator at the Museums of the Second Empire and the Empress, Château de Compiègne.
  • Thursday 8 January 2026 at 12:30am: “Pekka Halonen et les paysages sonores nordiques,” by Nicolas Deshoulières, musicologist and director of the Hector Berlioz Conservatory.
  • Saturday 31 January 2026 at 6pm: “Pekka Halonen en héritage. Rencontre avec Kustaa Saksi,” moderated by Tuula Yrjö-Koskinen, Director of Institut finlandais.

Concert series in partnership with École Normale de Musique de Paris – Alfred Cortot

  • Sunday 16 November 2025 at 4pm: “Poésies nordiques”, Trio Parrhésia interprets works by J. Kokkonen, J. Sibelius, L. van Beethoven and F. Mendelssohn
  • Sunday 14 December 2025 at 4pm: “France et Finlande à la Belle Époque”, pianist Kazumitsu Ujisawa interprets works by J. Kokkonen, J. Sibelius, F. Chopin, C. Debussy and G. Fauré
  • Sunday 11 January 2026 at 4pm: “La Finlande – Entre mythes et nature”, soprano Marjaana Ritanen, baritone Johannes Pessi and pianist Kirill Kozlovski interpret works by J. Sibelius, T. Kuula, E. Melartin, L. Madetoja, Y. Kilpinen, A. Sallinen and O. Mustonen
  • Sunday 15 February 2026 at 4pm: “Lumières du Nord”, Quatuor Métamorphoses interprets works by J. Sibelius, C. Nielsen and M. Ravel

 

Practical Information

Petit Palais, Avenue Winston Churchill, Paris 8ᵉ
Open Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am–6 pm
Late openings on Fridays and Saturdays until 8 pm
Admission: €17 full price / €15 reduced / Free for under 18s
More information at www.petitpalais.paris.fr