Önningeby is a village in Jomala Municipality on the Finnish island of

Åland Åland ( fi, Ahvenanmaa: ; ; ) is an Federacy, autonomous and Demilitarized zone, demilitarised region of Finland since 1920 by a decision of the League of Nations. It is the smallest region of Finland by area and population, with a size of 1 ...

. It is located some 7 km (4 mi) northeast of

Mariehamn Mariehamn ( , ; fi, Maarianhamina ; la, Portus Mariae) is the capital city, capital of Åland, an autonomous territory under Finland, Finnish sovereignty. Mariehamn is the seat of the Government of Åland, Government and Parliament of Åland, ...

. Önningeby has 214 inhabitants (2014). In the south of Önningeby, Lemström's canal separates the municipalities of Jomala and Lemland. In the late 19th century, Önningeby became popular with artists wishing to practice painting ''

en plein air ''En plein air'' (; French for 'outdoors'), or ''plein air'' painting, is the act of painting outdoors. This method contrasts with studio painting or academic rules that might create a predetermined look. The theory of 'En plein air' painting ...

'', i.e in the open air rather than in their studios. The Önningeby artists colony was centred around the summer house bought by the Finnish landscape painter

Victor Westerholm Victor Axel Westerholm (4 January 1860 Turku – 19 November 1919 Turku) was a Finland, Finnish landscape painter, especially known for founding the Önningeby artists' colony. Biography Victor Axel Westerholm was born in Turku in 1860. He was t ...

in 1884, and called by him Tomtebo. Since 1992, Ålands Konstmuseum (Åland's Art Museum) has presented a permanent exhibition of works by the artists who painted there. Presence of the artists' colony had a measurable impact on the village's life, not only culturally. Housing of visiting artists provided additional activity and income for the local inhabitants. The artists' colony dispersed at the beginning of the

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, when Westerholm abandoned Tomtebo. He returned there only in 1918, which still remains the family summer house. Lemström Canal was built in 1882. It significantly reduced the travel time between

Turku Turku ( ; ; sv, Åbo, ) is a city and former capital on the southwest coast of Finland at the mouth of the Aura River, in the region of Finland Proper (''Varsinais-Suomi'') and the former Turku and Pori Province (''Turun ja Porin lääni''; ...

and

. In 1960 a monument of

was designed by

Wäinö Aaltonen Wäinö Valdemar Aaltonen (8 March 1894 – 30 May 1966) was a Finnish artist and sculptor. The Chambers Biographical Dictionary describes him as "one of the leading Finnish sculptors". He was born to a tailor in the village of Karinainen, Finla ...

in a park near the canal.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Onningeby Villages in Åland