Ilmar Kimm

(1920–2011)

Still Life with Bananas. 1958

Oil, canvas. 59 x 73 cm (framed)
price 2 200


Ilmar Kimm "Still Life with Bananas"

Ilmar Kimm "Still Life with Bananas" Still Life with Bananas (19425.13512) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13513) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13514) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13515) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13516) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13517) Still Life with Bananas (19425.13518)

A rather chilling painting whose plot is difficult to explain. Here we see painting techniques and objects that should have been banned in 1958, but are not. Born, raised, and educated in Russia, the son of a Red Army commander, Ilmar Kimm, a war veteran who fought as a partisan in the war and was seriously wounded, uses a brushstroke in and through the painting that could almost be considered neo-impressionist. The elegant ornamentation speaks of the artist’s freedom and emphasis on painterly self-esteem, which was not yet favoured in the late 1950s. 
Separately, however, one has to wonder about bananas. An extreme deprivation on the one hand, a symbol of Western prosperity on the other – and yet there are many of them in Kimm’s painting. They are so desirable that Kimm has even depicted the banana peel as a sign of special luxury. The solemnity is added by a carafe with an unknown drink, so here we see bourgeois enjoyment performed by a Soviet war veteran. Pleasures and privileges, perks and luxuries – an amazing work. 

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Appearance in auctions

Globe Flowers on a Window
Ilmar Kimm
Globe Flowers on a Window
1967. Oil, canvas 92 x 73.5 cm (framed)
ESTONIAN ART CLASSICS AUCTION: Haus Gallery 05.05.2024
4 800
Final price: 9 200
In a Park
Ilmar Kimm
In a Park
1952. Oil, cardboard 34.5 x 43 cm (framed)
ESTONIAN ART CLASSICS AUCTION: Haus Gallery 04.05.2024
2 000
Final price: 3 200
Still Life with Bananas
Ilmar Kimm
Still Life with Bananas
1958. Oil, canvas 59 x 73 cm (framed)
ESTONIAN ART AUCTION - MID-19TH CENTURY TO 1965 Haus Gallery 06.05.2023
2 200
Final price: 2 200
Winter in the Suburb
Ilmar Kimm
Winter in the Suburb
1949. Oil, canvas 46 x 60.5 cm (framed)
EARLIER ART CLASSICS - Saturday, May 14th 15:00 Haus Gallery 14.05.2022
1 900
Final price: 1 900
Talvine Tartu vaade
Ilmar Kimm
Talvine Tartu vaade
1949. Oil, canvas 72.5 x 59.5 cm (framed)
SPRING 2020 Haus Gallery 15.05.2020
1 400
Final price: 1 400
Talveõhtune vaade ateljeeaknast
Ilmar Kimm
Talveõhtune vaade ateljeeaknast
1980-1990. oil on canvas 97.5 x 116 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXXIX AUCTION 2016 spring Haus Gallery 30.03.2016
2 100
Final price:
(sold)"> (sold)Pirita jahtklubi
Ilmar Kimm
Pirita jahtklubi
1964. oil on canvas 65 x 81 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXXV ART AUCTION Haus Gallery 25.04.2014
2 200
Final price: 3 800
(sold)"> (sold)Tallinna vaade
Ilmar Kimm
Tallinna vaade
1964. oil on cardboard 49.5 x 60 cm (framed)
Haus Gallery 26.10.2012
1 400
Final price: 1 400
Vana-Võidu
Ilmar Kimm
Vana-Võidu
1953. Oil on canvas 39 x 50 cm
HAUS / XIIth AUCTION, 2003 spring Haus Gallery 24.04.2003
959
Final price:
Natüürmort.
Ilmar Kimm
Natüürmort.
Undated. 70 x 81 cm
HAUS / IX AUCTION, 2001 autumn Haus Gallery 20.10.2001
1 470
Final price:

Appearance in exhibitions

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