How did the Torchbearers introduce free verse and urban themes to Finnish poetry?

In the mid-1920s, the group of young writers known as the Tulenkantajat, or "Torchbearers," introduced free verse and urban themes to Finnish poetry by adopting the slogan "Open the windows to Europe!"1

By looking beyond traditional national romanticism and embracing broader Continental influences, the group moved away from established poetic structures. This shift toward modernism was characterized by the introduction of exotic motifs and a new focus on urban romanticism, which contrasted with the rural and folk-oriented themes that had previously dominated Finnish literature. The early poetry of Katri Vala, a central figure of the movement, serves as a primary example of how these new ideals were realized in practice.1