ALBERT EDELFELT, 1877

Albert Edelfelt (1854 – 1905) was the first Finnish artist to enjoy international fame in his lifetime. He worked in the Realist style and began his career painting historical scenes. Edelfelt’s success empowered the art and culture of Finland to gain global recognition at the turn of the 20th century.

His painting Queen Blanche shows the 14th century Queen consort of Norway and Sweden, Blanche of Namur, with her son Haakon in her lap. She is singing the Swedish nursery rhyme Rida Rida Ranka, which is typically chanted while bouncing a child on the parent’s knee to mimic a horse-ride.

The rhyme is told from the perspective of Blanche, who predicts the greatness that Haakon will achieve when he grows up. However, she recognises that in spite of these future triumphs, as an adult he will still look back longingly on the peacfeulness of childhood.

While Edelfelt has skilfully rendered historical costume and setting here, the subject itself is timeless, capturing a tender moment between parent and child which continues to resonate with us today.