How you look at a work of art affects what you see: The case of Hugo Simberg's "The Wounded Angel"
After reading Helena Ruuska's biography of Hugo Simberg, I began to see Simberg's paintings in a new light. Many Finns recognize his painting of the wounded angel being carried on a stretcher by little boys. I have always liked the painting and thought it symbolizes the idea that no one is invulnerable (not even an angel), but we still have hope if we care for each other. If we can heal angels, we can do anything. In the painting, the boys are in adult clothes. There's a bloodstain on the angel's wing. The boy in front looks straight ahead, the angel girl looks down, and the boy at the back looks at the viewer. Hugo Simberg (1873–1917) was a Finnish symbolist painter famous for his enigmatic yet deeply humanistic works that explore themes of mortality, mysticism, and nature. His art, characterized by a unique blend of realism and fantasy, holds a special place in the hearts of Finns, embodying a profound connection to the Finnish landscape and psyche. Ruuska's boo
