Akseli Gallen-Kallela (1865–1931) holds a central place in Finnish art history as the greatest master of the so-called Golden Age of Finnish art. Within this framework, he has been cast as a national hero and a patriotic-minded artist. The art historian Onni Okkonen played a crucial role in establishing Gallen-Kallela’s legacy. His extensive writings, particularly his 1949 biography, portrayed Gallen-Kallela as the pinnacle of Finnish artistic achievement. Okkonen’s concept of a ‘Golden Age’ of Finnish art, heavily influenced by nationalistic motives, positioned Gallen-Kallela as a heroic figure who revived and celebrated Finnish cultural heritage through his art. Gallen-Kallela’s work was marked by a quest for authenticity and a connection to Finnish roots, which led him to Karelia to capture remnants of ancient Kalevalian culture. However, more recently, researchers have increasingly started to draw attention to Gallen-Kallela’s international networks and the variety and richness of the sources that he drew from. This chapter casts a critical eye on the Golden Age narrative and the notion of National Romanticism that it is closely connected to, seeking to generate a more multifaceted view of Gallen-Kallela’s artistic production and of Finnish art history during the period labeled as the ‘Golden age’ Gallen-Kallela’s works transcended national boundaries, reflecting broader European trends and universal themes. In his later years, he explored diverse cultures, including time spent in British East Africa and New Mexico, which further enriched his artistic vision.