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Paul Burman. Landscape with a Fisherman
Järvi Pust, gallerist at Haus Gallery
Paul Burman (1888–1934), the brother of Karl Burman Senior, obtained artistic training from such numerous and different sources that it would have been sufficient for several people. After graduating from Tallinn Secondary School of Science (then called Tallinn Peter’s School of Science), he studied at the atelier class of Ants Laikmaa, took classes in the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts in the animal painting class of Roubaud and educated himself further in Moscow, Riga and Paris. When studying his work in-depth, one can find traces and symbols of what he learned from each of these schools, but, first and foremost, the reflections of an artist with a unique view of the world, depicting what he has experienced and lived though. Regardless of the topic matter of the work, he is recognisable by his sensitive, but bold brush strokes and art historians have dubbed him both the first Estonian impressionist and animalist.
On the picture: Paul Burman. Landscape with a Fisherman
While animals (mainly horses, which Paul Burman depicts quite masterfully) are the topic he is best known for, at least on this painting none can be seen. Instead we are presented with verdant nature, glimmering reflections of colour and a fisherman dangling his legs from a little pier. Its treatment of colour is impressionist and both the sky and the humble treetops have been laid down with passionate movements of the hand. Regardless of it being a placid nature scene, there is an uncertain air of uneasiness, and we are not even sure if it is the fact that the weather can be seen changing in the distance or the fisherman is just a few moments away from the biggest catch of his life.