Pekka Halonen: an ode to Finland, the contemplative exhibition at the Petit Palais - our photos

He called himself " the painter of snow." Pekka Halonen (1865-1933) is being honored this fall and winter in Paris. From November 4, 2025, to February 22, 2026, the Petit Palais is hosting the first major French retrospective dedicated to the work of this Finnish painter, a true poet of snow. 

The exhibition, entitled " Pekka Halonen: A Hymn to Finland," is an opportunity to (re)discover the work of this artist, who is relatively unknown in France. However, it was in Paris that he trained, becoming a student of Paul Gauguin. The painter makes no secret of his influences from the artistic movements that infused Parisian creativity at the end of the 19th century, such as Japonism, Plein Air painting, and Synthetism. 

His specialty? Paintings of wild landscapes, with an undeniable talent for capturing winter. The artist, who was deeply attached to his country and its characteristic nature, decided to set up his studio, called Halosenniemi, on the shores of Lake Tuusula in southern Finland. Here, he drew inspiration from his garden to create works imbued with light and color that evolve with the seasons. 

Featuring more than 130 works from the country's major public and private collections, the exhibition " Pekka Halonen: A Hymn to Finland " is an immersion into the wild nature of Finland and its history, but also a poetic and contemplative journey into the heart of Pekka Halonen's painting. 

To trace his entire career—from the late 1880s to the early 1930s—the Petit Palais has opted for a chronological and thematic approach. This provides an opportunity to better appreciate the painter's artistic evolution. Visitors can also discover the artists who inspired him, his passion for music (the artist was very well acquainted with the great composer Jean Sibelius) and his playing of the kantele (a traditional Finnish instrument similar to a zither), as well as his lifestyle. 

• To be read
• What to do in Paris this week, December 22–28, 2025: Your events guide
• What to do in Paris and Île-de-France this weekend, December 25–28, 2025
• Painting exhibitions: not-to-be-missed events in Paris and the Île-de-France region

The visit takes on another dimension as you head to his "Halosenniemi" studio, reconstructed for the occasion with wooden walls and a large bay window overlooking the famous lake, so admired and observed byPekka Halonen. This section reveals the artist's everyday objects (travel easel, pair of skis, kantele), as well as the famous paintings created on site and a projection of contemporary photos of the house and its surroundings. Just before entering this room, visitors are invited to experience the soothing benefits of the Finnish forest through anolfactory terminal. Much more than a simple exhibition retracing the life and career of the Nordic painter, the retrospective has been designed as a meditative stroll and a sensory experience. 

But the highlight of the exhibition is in the last room, entitled "Symphonic in White Major." Here you can admire true masterpieces that beautifully capture the luminous whiteness of winter. Above these paintings, which invite visitors to engage in silent contemplation, the Petit Palais has inscribed 30 different Finnish words evoking snow and ice. While "Pakkaslumi" means "powder snow," "Höytylumi" is used to describe "very soft snow."

From November 4, 2025, to February 22, 2026, the Petit Palais invites you to experience a refreshing and sensory immersion in the heart of Finland's sumptuous wild landscapes through the poetic works of Pekka Halonen. It is also an opportunity to reflect on the preservation of nature in the face of global warming. This exhibition is a must-see to learn more aboutPekka Halonen, of course, but also about Finland and its history, independent since December 6, 1917.

This is also an exhibition where you need to take your time to admire each painting and feel the power of this wild nature. "The original source of my inspiration is nature. I have lived in the same place for 30 years, with the forest at my feet. I have often thought that I have the Louvre or the world's greatest treasures on my doorstep. All I have to do is go into the forest to see the most wonderful paintings—and I don't need anything else," said the Nordic painter. If you're in a hurry, move on. For everyone else, you're in for a beautiful journey into the heart of Finland, its forests, and its art. 

For the more curious among you, note that the Petit Palais is organizing several events for the occasion, such as this weekend dedicated to the famous Moomins, scheduled for December 6 and 7, 2025. More info on the official website.