LATVIANLANDSCAPE

PAINTING“AL4ED”

Association “Rural Partnership Selija”

Latvia

Castiglione del Lago

March, 2014

Latvia Capital – Riga

Inhabitants - 2,003,000

Territory - 64,589 km2

Bordered by Estonia,

Lithuania, Russia, Belarus.

Landscape painting – a kind of

painting that represents the image of nature:

forests

fields

cities (urban)

sea (marina)

industrial landscape.

JŪLIJS FEDERS(1838-1909)

The most significant Latvian Realism landscape painter.

«Landscape with stormy clouds»

1873. oil / canvas, 96 x 122

To the 19th century mid-70s artist`s landscapes were

influenced by romantic traditions.

He painted topographically uncertain landscapes with

spontaneous dramatic effect.

A dramatic scenery with dark clouds drifting over an uninhabited

wooded valley.

A whirlwind with broken and bent trees.

In the painting "Cemetery" the artist showed a visually perceptible landscape lighting specifics with the effects of the atmosphere on the shape of the objects.

A typical Latvian rural summer landscape with a panoramic space and a horizontal direction.

«Cemetery»1880. Oil / canvas, 56 x 45

«The River Gauja Valley»

1891. Oil / canvas, 111 x 173

Lush greenery with a spacious horizon and a river circling in the distance.

An idyllic, colorful landscape of Latvia.

River circling is associated with the landscape depicted on the former Latvian 10-lat banknote.

VILHELMS PURVĪTIS(1872-1945)

The founder of the Latvian National Arts School and national landscape painting.

«Spring waters». (Maestoso) 1910. Oil / canvas. 102,5 x 144

A landscape made from memory using old works and sketches.

Seven - nine large fields of color, rhythmically arranged lines.

Details are subjected to the structure of the composition:

water and sky patches,

birch trunks looks likeclassical columns,

a peaceful flow of water with ice.

It is the first known picture in oil by Purvītis showing typically Latvian flood waters:

looks like a lake;

a birch grove with its reflection in the water;

the colours of an early spring;

The painting “Spring Waters” started the history of Latvian landscape painting.

Purvītis created the majestic canon of the national landscape.

A snowy landscape with a characteristic feeling of a Latvian winter.

The trapped light behind the clouds creates a mysterious and poetic atmosphere.

A masterful light effect.

«Winter» 1910. Oil / canvas. 72 x 101,3

EDUARDS KALNIŅŠ(1904-1988)

The most prominent Latvian marine artist.

The painting «Raftsmen» won the Rome Academy of Arts

Prize in 1935.

The artist's handwriting combines realist and romantic

features.

The greyish River Daugavaand the surrounding port include

human figures.

Different shades of dark grey light contrasts and shape

simplification. «Raftsmen»1935. , Oil / canvas. 149,5x185

The painting «Raftsmen" captured and displayed the mood, typical of the Baltic countries:

rainy and cloudy days,

reflections in the rainy waterfront and streets,

a pale early morning fog by the sea,

moist air and haze effects.

KONRĀDS UBĀNS(1893-1981)

A master of an intimate atmosphere and a sophisticated colourist.

«Irbenes Street»1932. Oil / canvas. 65,5x81

Impressionist.

Lyrical and romantic atmosphere.

The artist recognized direct and emotional experience.

The depth of winding streets, low buildings.

The trees and shrubs highlight the wildness.

«I've never tried to record a definite location. I`ve tried to show the moments that have aroused some feelings. Not all need to be displayed exactly like in nature. Nature should awaken an artist's imagination. The most expressive things should be selected from everything that has been observed and then used to compose a piece of art.»

K.Ubāns

VALDIS KALNROZE(1894 - 1993)

A master of subtle tonal paintings.

«The Sea of Blue» 1968. Oil / canvas. 60x70

The composition highlights some red accents, which enliven the mood of the

painting.

The light and dark areas are of a particular importance in

highlighting the harmony.

All kinds of greyish.

JŪLIJS MADERNIEKS(1870-1955)

A colourful space is enclosed by an outline.

The picture contains geometric and ornamental

elements - visible Art Nouveau features.

Various shades coming from Latvian folk art appear in the

artist`s pictures.

«Autumn»1929 , Paper, tempera, 28.00 x 25.00

A brilliant master of Latvian ornament.

PĒTERIS UPĪTIS(1899-1989)

“The River Gauja” is a picture from a thematic collection “The Gauja “ (1956 – 1962) - a lyrical

depiction of Latvian nature.

The artist created a monumental and poetic image of nature,

emphasizing the contrast of black and white.

Latvian nature was a symbol of patriotism and inspiration for the

artist.

The horizon is high as if it were seen from a bird's flight.

A remarkable Latvian Ex-Libris master.

«The River Gauja. Spriņģu Rock»1957. Paper, engraving. 22 x 31

KĀRLIS MIESNIEKS (1887— 1977)

The picture shows the value of a Latvian farmer`s

work in rural life.

The psychological aspect dominates in the landscape -the presence of human work

is felt in the picture.

The artist has a genuine attitude to the real life in the

country.

«The Daily Bread»1929. Oil / canvas, 176x146

A representative of Latvian realistic painting school. Studied painting in Paris and Berlin.

KĀRLIS ŠAUMANIS(1905 - 1971)

The artist painted a wide range of topics - still lives, landscapes,

figurative images, portraits.

Focused on idealizing the old times.

Painted Latvians dressed in their national costumes.

«The Bride» shows Latvian wedding traditions.

«The Bride»Oil / canvas. 61x76,5

In 1944 the artist emigrated to Germany and then to the U.S.

ĀRIJS SKRIDE(1906-1987)

One of the most remarkable follower of Vilhelms Purvitis and his landscape painting school.

«The delivery of the Crops» 1949. Oil / canvas, 95x125

One of the most remarkable painting about the state farms

in the countryside.

A greyish-greenish background with brightly

painted grain carts and people dressed in colorful clothes in

the center of the painting.

However, the landscape is of a primary role.

INTA DOBRĀJA(1940)

Harmony and love of the Latvian way of life and traditions

through generations.

The artist finds values in everyday life.

Through the beautiful, feminine and eternal the artist speaks about continuity, vitality and

harmony.

«Rural Madonna»1986. Oil / canvas, 140x120

The Union of Latvian Artists' member.

KĀRLIS SŪNIŅŠ(1907-1979)

The artist has a spiritual intimacy to the Latvian

folklore.

The painting shows a panoramic landscape with a

hazy horizon and white cloud mountains in the sky.

Lightness and mysterious effect.

Latvian painter, one of the Latvian watercolor school makers after World War II. 1930s painted decoration panel in tempera technique of residence of the President.

«Winter Evening »1957. Paper, watercolor.

JĀNIS GAILIS(1903-1975)

The sea is a symbol of the artist`s homeland.

For this reason, the red-white-red color areas

in the centre of the picture remind us of the

Latvian flag.

The clouds are coming forward to the viewer.

«A Colourful Evening»Oil / canvas, 81 x 107

A landscape and marine artist. In 1944 he went in exile to Germany.

JĀNIS BREKTE(1920-1985)

One of the most prolific and the most popular water-color artist.

The artist loved to paint Riga.

Shows the changes of Riga in 35 years.

Blue-grey colours topped with red accents.

With the help of coloursthe artist perfectly portrayed the romantic atmosphere and

mood of the streets in Old Riga.

«Old Town»1973, Paper/watercolor. 61x46

JURĢIS SKULME(1928)

The painting reflects the Latvian natural

beauty.

A greyish landscape with a bright horizon.

Atmospheric lightness.

"Landscape painting is the closest to

poetry,” says the artist.

«Lake Ķīšezers»2008. Oil / canvas. 56 x 71

A painter and art historian.

ALEKSEJS NAUMOVS(1955)

Frost and pearly shades of glimmering cold landscape.

The city opens in a magic way.

One can feel the energy of the place.

The painting was painted in nature without any sketches.

«Ķīpsala»2011. Acrylic / canvas, 110x130

Studied at the Sorbonne University in Paris.

The Latvian perception of the world plays an important role for landscape painters. Since Latvia has historically been an agrarian country, human life has always been associated with:

farmsteads,

fields,

forests

the Baltic sea.

The contemporary Latvian artists confirm the presence of the concept of national identity in contemporary art.

Nowadays classical landscape painting school in Latvia with its realist perception of the landscape is alive and thriving, proving that

The nation's deep love for nature is alive.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!

Solvita KukleInese Bramane

Associaton “Rural Partnership Selija”

Latvia