Serene Moments and Vibrant Colours

Commercial Counsellor Frithjof Tikanoja (1877–1964) was not only a businessman but also a lover of literature, music, and visual arts. He amassed an extensive book collection and an art collection comprising over a thousand works. The growth of the art collection was influenced by Tikanoja’s inner circle, which was formed after he became acquainted with the family of Juho Myntti. Typical of the merchants of his time, Tikanoja was very well-connected, and his circle of acquaintances included many visual artists and writers. When travelling abroad, he enjoyed visiting art exhibitions. The Tikanoja family home was located in the centre of Vaasa, but they spent their summers at their seaside villa, where Tikanoja tended to his large garden. On the villa’s yard, guests were greeted by Tikanoja’s first significant art acquisition – a sculpture inspired by Aleksis Kivi’s novel Seven Brothers.

The exhibition opening at the Tikanoja Art Museum in 2025 will offer a glimpse into Frithjof Tikanoja’s remarkable collection. The most significant part of the collection’s foreign art consists of works by French artists and artists who worked in France. Tikanoja’s personal favourite was Jean-François Millet’s atmospheric work Shepherds at a campfire (1849). Henri Matisse’s Sculpture and Vase of Ivy (1916–1917) reflects the collection’s diversity: Tikanoja did not hesitate to acquire modernist works. Eemu Myntti’s landscapes and portraits were praised already in their time for their vibrant colours. Victor Westerholm and Maria Wiik’s intimate interior scenes highlight the beauty of everyday life, while William Lönnberg’s The Ironer (1920) exudes warmth.

Image: Victor Westerholm: Cows in the Pasture, 1880, oil on canvas, photo: Mikko Lehtimäki