Viljo Hurme (1893-1987)

Viljo Hurme is best known for his watercolors from the 1920s and 1930s. People working in the countryside, small everyday moments, lively village scenes and portraits reflect mastery of watercolor technique and sensitivity to emotions. In the 1930s, Hurme started doing oil paintings and he became a very popular portrait painter. His production in the 1950s consisted of intimate depictions of interiors and still lifes. In the 1960s, the artist´s expression changed into articulations that pushed the borders of representative art.

Viljo Hurme´s artistic career was exceptionally long and prolific. From the age of 16 when he began his art studies, he painted on a daily basis and, in his own words, a painting a day. He finished his last work at the age of 94, four days before his death in in June 1987. In his nearly 80-year career, thousands of tableaus were born from Hurme´s brush.

Viljo Hurme donated over 500 paintings to a foundation carrying his name and established in 1982. The artist´s home in Muurla, which was bequeathed to the foundation, opened its doors to the friends of Hurme´s art in June 1987.