Paper

Student Artwork Guide

Summer Evening

Albert Edelfelt

Name Class Date
Albert Edelfelt, Summer Evening. Public domain.

The facts

Artist
Albert Edelfelt topimpressionists.com/en/artists/albert-edelfelt/
Artist’s dates
1854 – 1905
Medium
Acrylic On Canvas
Movement
Finnish Realism
Period
19th Century
Artistic Style
Realism, Impressionism
Influences
Gérôme, Parisian schools
Notable Elements
Birds, dogs, sunset
Subject or Theme
Landscape, rural life

Copyright This work is in the public domain. Albert Edelfelt died in 1905; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1975.

Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Aug. 28, 2026

Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt Part 1 · The artwork

In context

Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt

When might this have been painted?

  1. 1850
  2. 1860
  3. 1870
  4. 1880
  5. 1890
  6. 1900

Shaded: the lifetime of Albert Edelfelt (1854–1905)

This record has no exact year on file — using the artist's lifetime and the work's style, what decade would you guess?

Compare with

Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.

More works to set beside this one: topimpressionists.com/en/art/similar/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/

Colours

Measured from the image

    Main colour

    Putty #d6bd96

    Catalogued palette

    • #D6BD96
    • #36221D
    • #5A492D
    • #978765
    Palette
    Earthy The dominant colour family in the image.
    Main colour name
    Putty
    Intensity
    Balanced How saturated and varied the colours are, from a single toned-down hue to many bright ones.
    Contrast
    Statement How much the colours differ in lightness and saturation across the picture.
    Harmony
    Balanced Harmony How well the colours work together, from clashing to fully unified.
    Brightness
    Shadow How light or dark the picture reads overall, from deep shadow to bright highlight.
    Saturation
    Balanced Soft How pure and strong the colours are, from near-grey to fully vivid.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Aug. 28, 2026

    Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt Part 2 · In context

    Artist and museum

    Artist

    Albert Edelfelt

    Born in Porvoo, Finland

    early life and education

    albert gustaf aristides edelfelt, a renowned finnish painter, was born on july 21, 1854, in porvoo, finland. his parents, carl albert edelfelt and alexandra edelfelt (née brandt), were swedish-speaking finns. edelfelt's early life was marked by an innate passion for art, which led him to pursue formal studies at the drawing school of the finnish art society in 1869.

    artistic journey

    edelfelt's artistic journey took him to various esteemed institutions, including:

    antwerp academy of art (1873-74), where he honed his skills in history painting.

    école nationale des beaux-arts in paris (1874-78), under the tutelage of jean-léon gérôme, further refining his craft.

    a brief stint at saint petersburg (1881-82) exposed him to diverse artistic influences.

    rise to prominence and notable works

    edelfelt's breakthrough came with a gold medal at the paris universal exposition of 1889. his notable works include:

    portrait of louis pasteur, which earned him the legion of honour in 1886.

    young woman in her boudoir, showcasing his mastery of capturing the essence of femininity.

    under the birches, a poignant representation of finnish landscapes.

    legacy and impact

    as one of the first finnish artists to achieve international fame, edelfelt significantly contributed to the realist art movement in finland. his influence extended to younger finnish painters, such as akseli gallen-kallela and gunnar berndtson, whom he assisted in their breakthroughs in paris.

    museum collections and commemoration

    edelfelt's works are featured in various museums, including the ateneumin taidemuseo in helsinki. his legacy was commemorated with a €100 albert edelfelt commemorative coin in 2004, celebrating his 150th birth anniversary. key artworks and museum collections:

    view albert edelfelt's artworks on AllPaintingsStore

    explore ateneumin taidemuseo's collection on AllPaintingsStore

    discover more:

    atheneumin taidemuseo helsinki, finland on AllPaintingsStore

    albert edelfelt's wikipedia page

    Where to read more

    Find this online

    QR code linking to the download page for Summer Evening

    topimpressionists.com/en/art/download/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/

    Cite this artwork

    MLA
    Edelfelt, Albert. Summer Evening. n.d., https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/
    APA
    Edelfelt, Albert (n.d.). Summer Evening [Painting]. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/
    Chicago
    Albert Edelfelt. Summer Evening. n.d. https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/
    Harvard
    Edelfelt, Albert (n.d.) Summer Evening. Available at: https://topimpressionists.com/en/art/albert-edelfelt-summer-evening-8BWMHF-en/

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Aug. 28, 2026

    Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt Part 3 · Artist and museum

    Look closely

    Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt

    Look closely

    Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.

    1. What catches your eye first, and why?
    2. Which colours or shapes create the mood — and what is that mood?
    3. Our catalogue files this work under: finnish landscape, summer evening scene, rural tranquility. Do you agree? What would you add, or take away?
    4. Look back at The Artist's Son Erik in his Pram, earlier in this guide. Name two things it shares with this work, and one that is different.
    5. Themes that come back through the work of Albert Edelfelt: swedish rural traditions, french academic training impact, finnish national identity themes. Which of them do you see here?

    Your response

    Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.

    Source: TopImpressionists.com — accessed Aug. 28, 2026

    Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt Part 4 · Look closely

    Art quiz

    Summer Evening — Albert Edelfelt

    How well do you know this artwork?

    Tick one answer for each of the 5 questions below. Each has exactly one correct answer.

    1. 1. Albert Edelfelt’s ‘Summer Evening’ primarily depicts:

      • A A historical battle scene.
      • B A tranquil rural landscape with a sunset.
      • C A portrait of a prominent scientist.

    2. 2. The inclusion of birds and dogs in ‘Summer Evening’ contributes to the painting's overall effect by:

      • A Creating a sense of stillness and contemplation.
      • B Adding a lively, dynamic quality to the scene.
      • C Highlighting the formal composition of the landscape.

    3. 3. During which period did Albert Edelfelt study at the Antwerp Academy of Art?

      • A 1874-1878
      • B 1869-1873
      • C 1881-1882

    4. 4. What artistic influence is most strongly associated with Edelfelt's training at the École Nationale des Beaux-Arts in Paris?

      • A Impressionism
      • B Realism and Historical Painting
      • C Cubism

    5. 5. The gold medal Edelfelt won at the Paris Universal Exposition of 1889 significantly boosted his career. What type of work earned him this recognition?

      • A A landscape painting
      • B A portrait of Louis Pasteur
      • C A religious icon

    My score: ____ out of 5

    Answer key — for the teacher

    This starts a fresh printed page, so it can simply be left out of the copies.

    1B · 2B · 3C · 4B · 5B