Nikolai Triik

1884 - 1940

Mererand. 1905

Oil on canvas. 27 x 37 cm
price 12 144


Nikolai Triik "Mererand"

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of the creation of Nikolai Triik in the earlier art history of Estonia. Together with Konrad Mägi and Ants Laikmaa they formed a trio, next to whom is placed the starting mark of the art history of the 20. century Estonia. Of course there were also other authors, but Triik and Mägi were the artists, whose creative stubbornness and brilliant painting technique lifted them to the ultimate top of the most significant Estonian artists ever. It is of importance while talking of Triik that these early years remained his artistic peak. When Konrad Mägi worked intensively until the end of his life, when Ants Laikmaa’s pastel creation was also eye-striking in the 1920ies, then Nikolai Triik dedicated himself after the establishment of “Pallas” more and more to school work, leaving his development as an artist to a great extent into the hands of fate. But we can add one more dimension to this work, maybe the most significant one. While depicting the Leetse seashore, Triik is exactly at the spot his heart most of all wanted to be – near the home farm of his relatives from the mother’s side near Paldiski, in the place where Triik felt himself really happy and free.
Triik’s earlier creation moved to a great extent in the same direction as the creation of Erik Obermann. As a sharp-eyed analyst, the “prankster” (schoolmate Paul Pinna) was able to become with his early caricature creation already a significant author. In 1901 Triik went to St.Petersburg to the Stieglitz School. It is thought that the initiators were his tutors, but often is also mentioned one St.Petersburg doctor, who spent summers in Estonia and who saw Triik’s first paintings. Motifs of these paintings was the Leetse shore…
In St.Petersburg Triik met Konrad Mägi for the first time. With the latter he participated in the revolution of 1905. Both of them left the school at their own will, but this meant only progress. Evi Pihlak writes that years 1905 and 1906 were extraordinary in Triik’s life, they were uniquely full of events. During a year and a half Laikmaa’s studio school, again (!) St.Petersburg, Ǻland and fastening the boots with a violin string, Helsinki, Paris. But in case of the present work it is useful to place the finger between leaving of St.Petersburg and Laikmaa’s studio school, the summer of 1905, when Triik again stayed at Leetse. We can date the present painting according to the weather – summer, the sky somewhat gloomy, but the evening sun seems to be reflecting from the stones. But we can also date the work according to the Estonian art history of the 20.century – the academism of the Stieglitz School of St.Petersburg has just become too tight for this painting. This is just an intermediate stop, personal and meant only for himself. The future is yet unclear, but we already know that Laikmaa is expecting on August 10 the author of “Mererand”.
Ahead were waiting further artistic development and laying the foundation to the figurative art of one nation.
The significance of Triik, especially the extreme importance of his early painting creation, the extreme rarity of his early paintings (Pihlak: “We have no concrete dated material which has preserved of Triik’s landscapes during these study years”), the impressively elaborated and skilful works. Yes, we can detect all of the beforementioned in this work. But furthermore: the Leetse shore, summer weather, restless times – Triik’s life or his happiest days are exactly in this work…

Booking and purchase

Appearance in auctions

(sold)"> (sold)Mererand
Nikolai Triik
Mererand
1905. Oil, canvas 27 x 37.5 cm (framed)
Haus Gallery's Autumn Auction Haus Gallery 01.11.2018
6 900
Final price: 9 300
(sold)"> (sold)Kingsepa töötuba
Nikolai Triik
Kingsepa töötuba
1905. 34 x 27.5 cm (framed)
Haus Gallery's anniversary auction Haus Gallery 03.11.2017
7 600
Final price: 7 900
Rukkiväli
Nikolai Triik
Rukkiväli
1934. colured pencil on cardboard lm 25 x 35 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXXVI ART AUCTION. 2014 autumn Haus Gallery 06.10.2014
1 600
Final price:
(sold)"> (sold)Rannamaastik
Nikolai Triik
Rannamaastik
1905. oil on canvas vm 20.8 x 35.2 cm (framed)
Haus Gallery 25.10.2013
5 200
Final price: 5 200
Kadri Triigi portree
Nikolai Triik
Kadri Triigi portree
1927. pancil, paper vm 29.4 x 22.2 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXXI ART AUCTION. 2012 spring Haus Gallery 20.04.2012
3 800
Final price:
(sold)"> (sold)Väikelinna vaade
Nikolai Triik
Väikelinna vaade
1905-1909. Oil on cardboard 42 x 47 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXX ART AUCTION 2011 autumn Haus Gallery 14.10.2011
4 260
Final price: 7 000
(sold)"> (sold)Leetse motiiv
Nikolai Triik
Leetse motiiv
1905. oil on canvas 25.3 x 35.2 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXVI ART AUCTION 2010 spring Haus Gallery 15.04.2010
3 707
Final price:
Vana aed
Nikolai Triik
Vana aed
1915. oil, canvas on cardboard 63.3 x 81 cm (not framed)
HAUS GALLERY XXIV ART AUCTION 2009 spring Haus Gallery 28.04.2009
59 438
Final price:
(sold)"> (sold)Soome maastik
Nikolai Triik
Soome maastik
1914. oil on canvas 37.2 x 45 cm
HAUS GALLERY´S 10. anniversary art auction Haus Gallery 25.09.2007
29 399
Final price: 29 399
(sold)"> (sold)Perseus
Nikolai Triik
Perseus
1908-1913. Water-colours, pencil, paper Lm. 21 x 18 cm
HAUS GALLRY XIX ART AUCTION, 2006 autumn. Old Masters Painting Haus Gallery 24.10.2006
4 985
Final price: 11 185
Mererand
Nikolai Triik
Mererand
1905. Oil on canvas 27 x 37 cm
HAUS GALLERY XVIth ART AUCTION, 2005 spring Haus Gallery 25.04.2005
12 143
Final price:
(sold)"> (sold)Naise portree
Nikolai Triik
Naise portree
1936. Pencil
HAUS / VIII AUCTION, 2001 spring Haus Gallery 26.04.2001
1 853
Final price: 1 853

Appearance in exhibitions

Landscape Of Saaremaa
Nikolai Triik
Landscape Of Saaremaa
1938. Oil, cardboard Vm 30.5 x 47 cm (framed)
WORKS FROM TWO PRIVATE COLLECTIONS Haus Gallery 15.02.2023-13.03.2023

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