Richard Uutmaa
(1905–1977)
At the Harbour. 1951
Oil, cardboard. 34.3 x 49.6 cm (framed)
price 14 700
The harbour motif had been prevalent in Estonian art since the 1930s and continued after the war. Of course, the maritime theme had a special place in Richard Uutmaa’s work, as both his ancestors and his own life were closely connected with the seas and shipping. In this work, Uutmaa is surprisingly specific and detailed, we can even clearly recognise the registration number on the nose of the boat. Instead of romantic atmospheres or epic depictions of human life, the main event of the painting is the quay and the different types of boats towed to it, as if demonstrating to the viewer the nuances of harbour life. It is possible that the artist has tried to adapt to the demands of social realism, which was still at its peak in 1951, but his desire for a freer approach is nevertheless evident: in the currents of the sea, the streaks of light falling on the harbour shore, in his treatment of the sky. The fact that Uutmaa depicts the harbour with extreme detail and care, but the harbours were not easily accessible and were semi-enclosed zones, gives the painting its own sombre undertone.