Adolf Ivar Arwidsson (1791–1858) worked to awaken and develop a sense of national identity in the autonomous Grand Duchy of Finland in the early 19th century. Alongside Elias Lönnrot, he was one of the most important collectors and researchers of Finnish folk poetry.

Sculptor Harry Kivijärvi’s granite work demonstrates exceptional mastery of stone carving. In the sculpture, the ‘man of the dawn’ uses a beam of light to move stone blocks that symbolise the heavy resistance of reactionary forces. In this way, the work depicts the challenges that characterised Arwidsson’s enlightening and socially significant work.