In the Finnish museum, the Russian artist Repin was recognized as “Ukrainian”

The Finnish art museum “Atheneum” has changed the nationality of artist Ilya Repin from Russian to Ukrainian. The museum’s public relations department explained that the decision was made in accordance with documents about the birthplace of Repin, his parents and grandfather – on the territory of modern Ukraine.

The museum added that this issue had already been raised in the past and was considered again in the spring of 2023, when the exhibition “A Question of Time” was being prepared. “Atheneum” decided to follow following the example of colleagues from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York and the National Gallery in London and indicate the artist as Ukrainian.

The Russian Embassy in Finland called the museum’s decision “contrary to common sense,” “a Russophobic and opportunistic action” in the spirit of “the abolition of Russian culture.”