[rarity, constructivism (cover) + futurism (content) = AVANT-GARDE, new art, good typography, calligrams,
experimental poetry, modernist aesthetics, breakthrough in Finnish poetry, first edition, excellent condition]
The iconic book of Finnish Futurism "Jääpeili" (Ice Mirror) by Aaro Hellaakoski with Geometric
Constructivist Cover Works by Unknown Finnish Artist [presumably the author himself], Helsinki 1928.
Publishing house "Otava", Helsinki 1928. REPRINT EDITION 2012. Finnish language. 68 pages. Size 128 x 193 mm.
Weight 78 gr. Original publisher's paperback. Complete copy. New condition, clean book without visible defects.
NB! This is indeed one of the most important books of Finnish futurism. The book was published in the same year
with the famous work of Mika Waltori "Highway" and in one publishing house. Attention is drawn to the construction
of lines of poems: in contrast to those adopted at that time classical quatrains, this book stands out for the "geometric"
construction of the verse [therefore tacitly called "Finnish geometry"]. The cover artist is unknown, but the author
of the collection was also an artist himself and was familiar with the famous Väine Aaltonenen. Therefore, the likelihood
that the cover was drawn by one of them is very high. This book is much seldom seen than "Valtatiet" and belongs
to the category "must have".
“Hellaakoski's first collection, Poems (1916), was of a satirical anti-bourgeois character and was coldly received by critics.
However, the books of the 1920s, especially the collection "Ice Mirror" ("Jääpeili", 1928), made him a prominent figure
in Finnish poetry - one of the greatest adepts modernist aesthetics. Hellaakoski's works during this period bore traces
of the influence of Apollinaire (including his calligrams) and Italian futurism."
"Jaepeili, published in 1928, was the most modern Finnish poem of its time. Its rhythm is fluid and disruptive
the then forms of versification. Hellaakoski used "free" poetry and received unflattering criticism for his publication."
Aaro Antti Hellaakoski (1893 - 1952) was a Finnish poet, geographer and geography teacher.
As a writer, he wrote poems but also prose and essays. As a poet, he was a pioneer of modernism in Finland.
As a geographer, he published scientific studies and contributed to the writing of textbooks.
He studied geography, zoology and botany, as well as geology and mineralogy at the University of Helsinki and graduated
with a bachelor's degree in philosophy in 1919. He published his first collection of poems in 1916. Hellaakoski defended
his doctoral dissertation in 1928.
Hellaakoski's life stages form three periods: in 1916–1928 he rose to the forefront of Finnish poets and defended his doctoral
dissertation, in 1928–1945 he worked as a geographer and from 1945 as a poet. The beginning of the poet's path was rocky:
Hellaakoski used free poetry, received ridiculous criticism of his publications, and at the same time made an effort to study
natural sciences. The first poems describe the search for the purpose of life, but in his next collections Hellaakski
discovered the lyricism of love and nature as well as the pursuit of beauty. Jääpeili, published in 1928, was the most modern
Finnish poem of its time. Its rhythm is variable, albeit violating the then medallion formulas. At the same time, however,
he had decided to move on to science. He was also a docent at the University of Helsinki.
He was a painter and was very familiar with art history. On his first trip to Italy, he amazed Wäinö Aaltonen, who had visited
Italy numerous times, with his knowledge of Italy and art history.
There are several reasons why Hellaakoski returned to poetry in 1945. The first was war and the guilt it caused, and the second
was the need to supplement one’s own writer self. He found new themes in his poems: religious settlement, nature photography,
and love. He was also able to find in his expression the greatness he had sought 35 years ago. Poetry collection The series consists
of separate and varied rhythmic poems, which, however, form a whole. The realistic and precise observations of the work convey
the uniqueness of the moment lived against an overtime background.
Poetic works:
Poems, 1916
Anonymous Songs, 1918
The two of us, 1920
From Elegia to Oodi, 1921
Mention and foam head, 1924
Song of the Pike, 1928
Ice Mirror, 1928
Selected Poems, 1940
On guard, 1943
New poem, 1943
Swaying bows, 1946
Silence, 1949
Series, 1952