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Onni Okkonen

1886 – 1962

Finnish art critic

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About Onni Okkonen

Lived 1886 – 1962 (aged 75). Onni Okkonen was a Finnish writer, art critic, painter, art historian and art collector.

Onni Okkonen (20 August 1886 – 18 May 1962) was a Finnish art historian based at the University of Helsinki.

Okkonen was born in Korpiselkä in Karelia and earned his Ph.D. in 1914. He was appointed professor of art history at the University of Helsinki in 1927, a position that he held until 1945. His main research interests were Finnish art and Italian Renaissance art. His works include an overview of the history of Finnish art, Suomen taiteen historia (1945), which was translated into English in 1946, as well as monographies on Wäinö Aaltonen, Juho Rissanen and Akseli Gallen-Kallela. He was also active as an art critic for the newspaper Uusi Suomi, as well as a fiction writer and painter.

He was chairman of the Kalevala Society from 1937 to 1942 and a member of the Academy of Finland from 1948 to 1956.

He is buried in the Hietaniemi Cemetery in Helsinki.

Footnotes

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Important facts

Birth century
Employers
University of Helsinki
Awards
Commander of the Order of the White Rose of Finland; Commander First Class of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of Finland; Commander of the Order of the Crown of Italy‎; Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Italian Solidarity; Knight Grand Officer of the Order of the Polar Star

People in Onni Okkonen's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Onni Okkonen's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Onni Okkonen?

Finnish art critic (1886–1962)

When was Onni Okkonen born?

Onni Okkonen was born on 20 August 1886 in Korpiselkä.

When did Onni Okkonen die?

Onni Okkonen died on 18 May 1962 in Helsinki.

What was Onni Okkonen's occupation?

Onni Okkonen was a writer, art critic, painter, art historian and art collector.

What nationality was Onni Okkonen?

Onni Okkonen was Finnish.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Onni Okkonen

· Wikidata: Q5404394

· DBpedia: Onni Okkonen

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Onni Okkonen. https://biography.guide/onni-okkonen/

MLA: "Onni Okkonen." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/onni-okkonen/.

Chicago: "Onni Okkonen." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/onni-okkonen/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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