Einari Junttila (1901–1975), a native of Kittilä, was internationally well-known and recognized as a self-taught lyrical realist, renowned especially as a watercolor artist. He also did oil paintings and worked with pastels. As the earliest known artist from Kittilä, Junttila was a sensitive interpreter of Lapland’s nature and remained true to his calling.
Einari Junttila was a gifted pianist, who also played the organ, accordion, guitar, and violin. There is a music box on display at the museum that holds sheet music from the beginning of the century.
Junttila was “discovered” by Günther Thaer, a German art expert, who visited Lapland as a tourist in the early 1930s. Thaer took some of the paintings to Germany where the leading art magazine wrote a rave review of this artist found in the wilderness of Lapland. These events led to his exhibitions becoming successful in Helsinki.
Einari Junttila took part in the Finnish National Art World Fair which toured in the German cities of Düsseldorf, Berlin, and Hamburg in 1934. In the exhibition, Junttila’s works were on display along with Väinö Aaltonen’s sculptures, as well as the works of Werner Holmberg, Fanny Churberg, Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, Eero Järnefelt, Marcus Collin, and Tyko Sallinen.
Einari Junttila lived his entire life in Kittilä. On his painting journeys on foot, he visited fells near and far, including the Pallaskero and Kilpisjärvi areas, and later the fells in Norway. Einari Junttila supported his family of nine with his artwork.
The Winter War and years of war that followed partially interrupted cultural development in Finland. The focus shifted to the front, where Einari Junttila also served for five years.
He enjoyed wandering on the fells, in solitude, painting Lapland’s landscapes and people for over 60 years until his death. The works he painted in his final days are also on display in the museum.
Publications about Einari Junttila
Günther Thaer, Volk der Wälder (1944), Vom Angesicht zu Angesicht (1952)
Marja Tuominen, Onko Junttilasta lukkariksi (1996)
Einari Junttila 1901–1975: Ei ko maalaa. Edited by Kaija Kähkönen. Writers: Heikki Kastemaa et al. Arts Nordica & Pohjoinen, 2002
Terttu Junttila, Muistelmia taiteilijaisästäni Einari Junttilasta (2009)
