Defence of the Sampo
1895
This chaotic black-and-white scene bursts with the energy of a heavy metal album cover, depicting a fierce battle from the *Kalevala*, Finland's national epic. The central figure, the wizard Väinämöinen, swings his sword desperately to protect the 'Sampo'—a magical mill that brings endless luck and wealth—while a giant eagle swoops down from the sky. Gallen-Kallela was the ultimate fanboy of Finnish mythology, and his swirling, dramatic lines make this 1895 print feel like an action movie frozen in time.
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