Olav Maran
(1933)
Vase with White Lilies. 1961
Oil, cardboard. 59.5 x 42 cm (framed)
price 5 300
A rare work from Olav Maran’s early creative period. In the early 1960s he painted several still-lifes, many of which are in the collection of the Art Museum of Estonia. They are all characterised by a generalised form that emphasises the simplicity and archaic nature of the motif. The paintings have been stripped of superfluous detail and the focus is on the living plant. The laconic tone, conveyed at the same time in strong tones and clear contrasts, further emphasises the acidity and vividness of the flowers in their anonymity. Even later, Maran made a point of ensuring that his still-lifes always had a plant or other organic element that would act as a mysterious source of life next to inanimate objects.