Waino Valdemar Aaltonen was a Finnish artist and sculptor. He became interested in art after being deaf as a child. A journey he made to Italy opened his eyes to cubistand futurist art. These elements can primarily be seen in his paintings. As the Republic of Finland arose, and the First World War raged, he sculpted War Memorials. He soon became a nationalist icon, the exemplar Finn, establishing an exhibition in Stockholm. His sculpture is nationalist in nature, and he is noted for monumental figures and busts portraying citizens of Finland.