The new painting, which dates to about 1887, was discovered as museum workers prepared for an anniversary exhibition of Schjerfbeck’s works.
The collection had attracted visitors at a steady rate even before the long-concealed painting saw light. But its appearance on display clearly boosted the number of visitors, with a record number of about 2,400 flocking to the exhibition last Saturday.
The painting had gone on display earlier the same week, exhibited side by side with the landscape it used to be hidden under.
By Wednesday, September 13, the Schjerfbeck exhibition had attracted some 134,000 visitors.