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Haus Gallery 03.11.2024 15:00

ESTONIAN ART CLASSICS, PART II

Sunday, 3rd of November at 15.00

Lust, Either Too Much or Important

Art has many purposes, but there is no doubt that some art is for pleasure – and some art also wants to depict pleasure. Such currents are rather scarce in older Estonian art. People work, life is serious, a little poetic at best. Post-war art, on the other hand, has much more playful and relaxed attitudes. Since life had become a little easier in a practical sense, but more complicated in a political sense, it is difficult to define the source of joy more precisely. However, it is striking that the authors of five of the seven works in this chapter are Estonians living abroad, one (Valerian Loik) was an author working in accordance with official norms during the Soviet regime, and one (Valdur Ohakas) was a former political prisoner. In the case of those living abroad, however, the source of playfulness is perhaps not even spiritual – the soul troubles of a refugee can be very great – but artistic. In a society much freer from canons and artistic norms, it was perhaps easier to create more fun art. Loik might have felt safe, but Ohakas had such a bubbly nature that he probably didn't even care what anyone thought was correct and what wasn't.

On a Swing
1. Erich Pehap On a Swing 1949. Watercolor, mixed media, paper Vm 36.8 x 44.3 cm (framed) Starting price 2 400 Last bid 2 500 Final price 2 500
Nude with a Book
2. Valerian Loik Nude with a Book 1950s. Oil, canvas 108 x 84 cm (framed) Starting price 7 000 Last bid 7 000 Final price 7 000
Gladioli
3. Hugo Lepik Gladioli 1950s. Oil, canvas 73 x 60 cm (framed) Starting price 2 400 Last bid 2 600 Final price 2 600
Limelight
4. Artur Mihkelsoo Limelight 1950s. Gouache, paper Km 24 x 45.7 cm (framed) Starting price 900 Last bid - Final price -
On the Stairs
5. Erich Pehap On the Stairs 1970. Watercolor, mixed media, paper Lm 48.7 x 35 cm (framed) Starting price 2 200 Last bid - Final price -
Dancing Women
6. Valdur Ohakas Dancing Women 1980. Oil, cardboard 25 x 31.6 cm (framed) Starting price 2 300 Last bid - Final price -
Final Round, the Train Is Coming
7. Kalev Mark Kostabi Final Round, the Train Is Coming 2015. Oil, canvas 45 x 60 cm (framed) Starting price 4 200 Last bid - Final price -

A Moment for Myself And for You

"I am a person who is satisfied with life," Viktor Karrus once said. "This feeling has given the foundation to my work so far; I believe that this will continue into the future." Today's artistic logic is often such that works are created with specific exhibitions or projects in mind. Of course, there are also works in which, at least initially, it is not clear what will happen next. However, it seems that in the past artists often painted just for their own pleasure. They were fascinated by something, or they wanted to keep their hands in practice, or there were other reasons, but in any case, works were made that were supposed to make one's heart happy, were intimate, came from the artist's close circle, or continued what the authors had been doing all along for years or even decades, without necessarily wanting to go anywhere or break further.

Can we Fish Together?
8. Boris Ninemäe Can we Fish Together? 1960-1970s. Oil, canvas 22 x 27 cm (framed) Starting price 1 100 Last bid 2 300 Final price 2 300
Sweet Peas and Cresses
9. Märt Bormeister Sweet Peas and Cresses 1972. Oil, cardboard 39.7 x 49.3 cm (framed) Starting price 1 800 Last bid 1 800 Final price 1 800
Flowers
10. Alfred Kongo Flowers 1977. Tempera, cardboard 68 x 48 cm (framed) Starting price 3 600 Last bid - Final price -
Autumn Landscape with Houses
11. Viktor Karrus Autumn Landscape with Houses 1978. Oil, canvas 60.3 x 80 cm (framed) Starting price 2 000 Last bid 2 100 Final price 2 100
Landscape with Rushes
12. Ivo Lill Landscape with Rushes 1983. Oil, cardboard 42.5 x 62.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 900 Last bid - Final price -
Park's Edge in the Evening
13. Enno Ootsing Park's Edge in the Evening 1985. Gouache, paber Lm 70.5 x 49.5 cm (framed) Starting price 2 600 Last bid - Final price -
Still Life with Pumpkin and Grapefruits
14. Olav Maran Still Life with Pumpkin and Grapefruits 2002. Oil, cardboard 60 x 70 cm (framed) Starting price 8 600 Last bid 8 600 Final price 8 600

Modernist – Henn Roode 100

This year is Henn Roode's 100th birthday. He was born in Tallinn in 1924, and in the 1940s he started studying at the former Pallas Art School, where he and his fellow students were fascinated by the work of Elmar Kits. They often went to cafes together, discussed, dreamed of Paris – until he and his companions were arrested, accused of planning to hijack a plane and escape to France, and were taken to a prison camp. During the Soviet era, a catalog about Roode barely noted: "Studies interrupted for a few years." When he returned from Siberia, he was already 32 years old. Like Olev Subb, for example, Roode did not talk about his years in the prison camp – not publicly anyway, but rather not among his own people. He wanted to move on, so he graduated from the art institute in 1959, but he could only work as a painter for 15 years. Two years after the passing of his teacher Elmar Kits, Roode died of a serious illness.

Roode became one of the most important authors of the 1960s. He may not have influenced the overall image of the exhibitions, there were other stars, but in the artistic circles he was an indisputable authority both in terms of his personal characteristics and artistic pursuits. As he painted analytically, Roode searched for something he described in his notes as “truth” and “absolute”. "By penetrating the essence of the phenomena, the artist removes coverings not only from human faces, but also from objects. He articulates, splits and dismembers the forms and then reunites them to demonstrate the unity of the world visible in front of the viewer," writes Ninel Ziterova. Roode never forgot the influence of color, but the approach to form was just as important to him. Thematically, he explored both the city and the sea, still lifes and people, created portraits and people on Midsummer, and also reached abstractionism.

 

Self Portrait with Scarf and Beret
15. Henn Roode Self Portrait with Scarf and Beret 1968. Oil, cardboard 69.5 x 49.8 cm (framed) Starting price 5 700 Last bid - Final price -
Sitting Woman
16. Henn Roode Sitting Woman 1960s. Oil, cardboard 74 x 51.5 cm (framed) Starting price 7 700 Last bid - Final price -
Sea
17. Henn Roode Sea 1966. Oil, cardboard 50 x 72 cm (framed) Starting price 3 800 Last bid 3 800 Final price 3 800
Allocation
18. Henn Roode Allocation 1968. Oil, cardboard Lm 51 x 34.8 cm (framed) Starting price 3 100 Last bid - Final price -
Still Life
19. Henn Roode Still Life 1969. Oil, cardboard 42 x 43.7 cm (framed) Starting price 4 200 Last bid - Final price -
Still Life
20. Henn Roode Still Life 1973. Oil, canvas 65 x 78 cm (framed) Starting price 12 700 Last bid - Final price -

Dream Interpretations

Surrealism, fantasy, dreams, symbols and so on permeated Estonian art not with an explosion, but gradually. To some extent, they were always here, even for Konrad Mägi or Oskar Kallis, the reality visible to the eye and perceived by the mind was not enough. However, such approaches became more free after the Second World War, when all kinds of strict canons were dispersed and the proportion of rules decreased. It is true that the Soviet norms were still watching what was happening with a hawk's eye, which is why we see an increase in the proportion of such works since the mid-1980s. However, perhaps the rise of surrealism and fantasy should not be associated so much with historical breakthroughs, but with the personal plans of the authors. At the same time, it is interesting to note that many authors did not start with strangely inexplicable worlds, but arrived there only after they had first dealt with and exhausted the possibilities of the real world for themselves.

Sons II
21. Nikolai Kormašov Sons II 1972. Tempera, cardboard 45.3 x 31 cm (framed) Starting price 2 600 Last bid - Final price -
Tower by the River
22. Rein Kelpman Tower by the River 1997. Oil pastel, mixed media, paper 47.5 x 51.3 cm (framed) Starting price 1 700 Last bid 2 500 Final price 2 500
Deputies
23. Miljard Kilk Deputies 2005. Oil, canvas 173 x 144 cm (framed) Starting price 19 000 Last bid 54 000 Final price 54 000
External Languages
24. Juss Piho External Languages 2010-2011. Oil, canvas 145 x 185 cm (not framed) Starting price 12 000 Last bid - Final price -

Searching Geometrizers

In the 1920s, geometrization, the articulation of forms and the division of volumes became probably the most prominent avant-garde direction of art here in the aftermath of international cubism. At the time, it was not exactly well received, it seemed too radical, but later geometrization seeped back imperceptibly. In a slightly milder form, rather stylizing the forms and refraining from complete cubism, placing geometric shapes in an abstract context and treating squares and triangles as interesting forms, rather than dissolving the visible world into squares and triangles. The most diverse authors, from foreigners to young students, from so-called semi-official authors to former Pallasians, were interested in what happens when geometry becomes the defining element of a painting.

Still Life with Pitcher
25. Lembit Nõmmeots Still Life with Pitcher 1950s. Oil, canvas 39.3 x 61.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 300 Last bid 1 300 Final price 1 300
Abstraction
26. Endel Kõks Abstraction 1960. Oil, canvas 67.5 x 55 cm (framed) Starting price 6 300 Last bid 7 500 Final price 7 500
Abstract Composition
27. Endel Kõks Abstract Composition 1963. Oil, canvas 81 x 100 cm (framed) Starting price 29 000 Last bid - Final price -
Geometric Landscape
28. Varmo Pirk Geometric Landscape 1966. Watercolour Lm 32 x 43.7 cm (framed) Starting price 2 500 Last bid - Final price -
Peipsi Men
29. Lepo Mikko Peipsi Men 1967. Oil, canvas 72.5 x 100 cm (framed) Starting price 13 500 Last bid 17 500 Final price 17 500
Still Life with a Jug
30. Valdur Ohakas Still Life with a Jug 1967. Oil, cardboard 27 x 37 cm (framed) Starting price 2 400 Last bid - Final price 2 400
Figures
31. Jüri Kikka Figures 1968. Oil, cardboard 80 x 60.5 cm (framed) Starting price 2 200 Last bid 2 200 Final price 2 200
Ship Repairmen
32. Kaljo Polli Ship Repairmen 1974. Oil, canvas 81.5 x 100 cm (framed) Starting price 3 600 Last bid 5 300 Final price 5 300
Paths in the Mountains
33. Rein Kelpman Paths in the Mountains 1986. Oil, canvas 160 x 149.5 cm (not framed) Starting price 13 800 Last bid 13 800 Final price 13 800
Geometric Cat
34. August Künnapu Geometric Cat 2006. Acrylic, canvas 138 x 87 cm (not framed) Starting price 6 300 Last bid - Final price -

The Many Faces of The Joy of 90s Art

The 1990s was a crazy and unique era, when a lot was renewed, but above all there was a branching out happening. At the same time, many different developments and upheavals took place, they went in very different directions, classical styles were side by side with completely new solutions. It was an era when the main stream branched off into dozens of sub-streams in the era's delta, and there was interest in everything. There were authors who radically changed their previous approaches, and then there were those who stuck to the old lines or wanted to add just a few new nuances. Both formally and in terms of the choice of motifs, that decade was exceptionally diverse: abstractionism and romantic realism, nudes and collages, new techniques and good old brushwork, joie de vivre and tensions –everything was present and at the same time.

Gloomy Sea I
35. Jaan Elken Gloomy Sea I 1990. Oil, canvas 48 x 60 cm (framed) Starting price 2 900 Last bid - Final price -
Evening on the Shore
36. Jüri Ristna Evening on the Shore 1991. Oil, canvas 40.7 x 51 cm (framed) Starting price 2 100 Last bid 2 100 Final price 2 100
City in Snow
37. Olev Mikiver City in Snow 1992. Gouache, paper Km 22 x 17 cm (framed) Starting price 1 100 Last bid - Final price -
Sun of the Night
38. Siim-Tanel Annus Sun of the Night 1993. Author's technique, canvas 50 x 35 cm (framed) Starting price 1 600 Last bid 1 700 Final price 1 700
Vase with Flowers
39. Toomas Vint Vase with Flowers 1993. Oil, canvas 100 x 105 cm (framed) Starting price 11 000 Last bid 19 500 Final price 19 500
With Muse
40. Mall Nukke With Muse 1994. Mixed media, hardboard 20 x 20 cm (framed) Starting price 900 Last bid 1 000 Final price 1 000
Youth of Zeus
41. Mall Nukke Youth of Zeus 1994. Mixed media, hardboard 20 x 20 cm (framed) Starting price 900 Last bid 950 Final price 950
St Peter's Church, Tartu
42. Efraim Allsalu St Peter's Church, Tartu 1995. Oil, masonite 63.5 x 50.5 cm (framed) Starting price 3 100 Last bid - Final price -
Lying Nude
43. Paul Allik Lying Nude 1995. Oil, cardboard 50 x 60 cm (framed) Starting price 4 600 Last bid - Final price -
Still Life
44. Paul Allik Still Life 1999. Oil, canvas 53 x 65 cm (not framed) Starting price 4 400 Last bid - Final price -
Models I
45. Evald Okas Models I 1999. Mixed media, paper Lm 99 x 72 cm (framed) Starting price 5 500 Last bid - Final price -
Various Flowers
46. Evald Okas Various Flowers 1999. Oil, cardboard 81.5 x 63 cm (framed) Starting price 7 200 Last bid - Final price -

Modern Art Classics

Modern art seems to rule out being a classic, but at the same time, certain avant-garde artists still become permanent heroes of history books over time. This selection features authors, some of whom have been faithful to the basic solutions they have found for decades, while others have started a new creative cycle almost every few years. There are both student experiments and retired people's reflections on history, both irony and conceptualism, both modern treatment of nature and abstract rhythms. If becoming a classic requires certain formulas, then in the case of modern art only very few rules apply – the work must be convinced, finished in its own style, not being able to make compromises or being halfway is not the same as artistic experimentation, where new approaches are tried, new forms, not entirely sure where it will all lead. It will eventually take somewhere.

Circle
47. Jüri Arrak Circle 1965. Oil, collage, cardboard 34.2 x 33 cm (framed) Starting price 3 200 Last bid - Final price -
Fir Tree
48. Lembit Sarapuu Fir Tree 1965. Oil, plywood 60 x 45.3 cm (framed) Starting price 4 700 Last bid 5 700 Final price 5 700
Summer Landscape
49. Toomas Vint Summer Landscape 1979. Oil, canvas 61.3 x 62 cm (framed) Starting price 8 100 Last bid 17 200 Final price 17 200
Altar I -II
50. Tiit Pääsuke Altar I -II 1989. Oil, canvas 151 x 98.5 cm (framed) Starting price 17 000 Last bid 70 000 Final price 70 000
Fragments C III
51. Andres Tolts Fragments C III 1994. Acrylic, canvas on board 70 x 49 cm (not framed) Starting price 3 900 Last bid - Final price -
San Giorgio
52. Enn Põldroos San Giorgio 1999. Oil, canvas 73 x 115 cm (framed) Starting price 6 800 Last bid 11 500 Final price 11 500
Play (Blue X)
53. Tiit Pääsuke Play (Blue X) 2006-2007. Acrylic, oil, canvas 50 x 110.5 cm (framed) Starting price 16 500 Last bid - Final price -
Code CLXXXIII
54. Leonhard Lapin Code CLXXXIII 2009. Acrylic, serigraphy, paper Lm 33.5 x 53.5 cm (framed) Starting price 2 100 Last bid 2 100 Final price 2 100
View 4
55. Toomas Vint View 4 2010. Oil, canvas 40 x 40 cm (framed) Starting price 4 900 Last bid 7 800 Final price 7 800
Summer 2024
56. Siim-Tanel Annus Summer 2024 2024. Author's technique, wooden plate 125.5 x 133 cm (not framed) Starting price 6 900 Last bid - Final price -

Estonian Women as Artists

Unfortunately, the stronger presence of Estonian women in art history only began after the Second World War. Of course, there were already before: in the Pallas lists, they are sometimes almost half and falf with men, but social models and norms of the era, as well as other reasons, did not favor the further work of women as artists. Most of them disappeared from the scene of history, and thus Estonia was very different from, for example, the art of the Nordic countries, where many female authors were already active at the end of the 19th century – and for this reason, looking back in history, we still have to talk about "female authors" separately and highlight their gender, because the darkness has been there for too long.

Therefore, this selection also starts only from the 1940s and Olga Terri. If we glance over the later decades, we notice that several authors did not want to engage in the power games of the art world and instead devoted themselves to the most important thing: art. Ann Audova or Kaja Kärner worked on art without even appearing very much at exhibitions. Audova even refused to organize a personal exhibition. Little is known about the thoughts of female artists: instead of large and important interviews, where the reader would have been treated to numerous theories, the focus was again on working on oneself and creating art. This does not mean that the theoretical baggage was thin, Sirje Runge is one example of an author who knows very precisely what and why she does and where it is located in the theoretical field. But in general, looking at women authors tells us the danger of generalizations. Their gender did not determine their approaches or motives, they worked in very different styles, genres and motifs, being abstract or close to nature, intimate or political, avant-garde or conservative. They could be anything.

Winter Town View
57. Olga Terri Winter Town View 1940s. Watercolor Lm 40.5 x 62.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 700 Last bid 3 200 Final price 3 200
View from the Water Tower
58. Kaja Kärner View from the Water Tower 1958. Oil, cardboard 28.5 x 41.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 700 Last bid 1 700 Final price 1 700
Cyclamen in a Vase
59. Leili Muuga Cyclamen in a Vase 1959. Oil, cardboard 49 x 33.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 700 Last bid 3 400 Final price 3 400
Double Portrait
60. Ann Audova Double Portrait 1960s. Oil, canvas on cardboard 35.5 x 49.5 cm (framed) Starting price 4 400 Last bid 7 400 Final price 7 400
Roses
61. Linda Kits-Mägi Roses 1960-1970s. Oil, canvas 54.7 x 37.5 cm (framed) Starting price 2 700 Last bid - Final price -
Asters
62. Linda Kits-Mägi Asters 1965. Oil, canvas 72 x 43.5 cm (framed) Starting price 4 600 Last bid - Final price -
Time III
63. Sirje Runge Time III 1980. Oil, masonite 32 x 30 cm (framed) Starting price 3 800 Last bid - Final price -
March
64. Kristiina Kaasik March 1981. Oil, canvas 130 x 92 cm (framed) Starting price 12 000 Last bid 12 000 Final price 12 000
Flowers
65. Lola Liivat Flowers 1981. Oil, tempera, masonite 50 x 40 cm (framed) Starting price 2 600 Last bid 2 600 Final price 2 600
Evening Dyke
66. Aili Vint Evening Dyke 1982. Oil, canvas 92 x 115 cm (framed) Starting price 34 000 Last bid 34 000 Final price 34 000
Catastrophe XIX
67. Sirje Runge Catastrophe XIX 1989. Oil, canvas 100 x 90 cm (framed) Starting price 10 500 Last bid - Final price -
Motif VI
68. Mari Roosvalt Motif VI 2000. Oil, mixed media, canvas 38 x 46 cm (not framed) Starting price 1 100 Last bid 1 100 Final price 1 100
Nude in Golden Light
69. Sirje Petersen Nude in Golden Light 2006. Oil, canvas 160 x 90 cm (not framed) Starting price 5 800 Last bid - Final price -
Great Mullein. Family Party
70. Malle Leis Great Mullein. Family Party 2012. Oil, canvas 90 x 90 cm (framed) Starting price 9 800 Last bid - Final price -
Åland
71. Anne Parmasto Åland 2019. Oil, canvas 47.5 x 60.5 cm (framed) Starting price 1 600 Last bid 2 000 Final price 2 000