Presentation of the Latvian partner concerning the activities developed for the LLP European Project A.L.4.E.D.

1. LATVIAN
LANDSCAPE
PAINTING
“AL4ED”
Association “Rural Partnership Selija”
Latvia
Castiglione del Lago
March, 2014

2. Latvia
 Capital – Riga
 Inhabitants - 2,003,000
 Territory - 64,589 km2
 Bordered by Estonia,
Lithuania, Russia, Belarus.
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3. Landscape painting – a kind of
painting that represents the image of nature:
 forests
 fields
 cities (urban)
 sea (marina)
 industrial landscape.
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4. JŪLIJS FEDERS
(1838-1909)
The most significant Latvian
Realism landscape painter.
«Landscape with stormy clouds»
1873. oil / canvas, 96 x 122
To the 19th century mid-70s
artist`s landscapes were
influenced by romantic traditions.
He painted topographically
uncertain landscapes with
spontaneous dramatic effect.
A dramatic scenery with dark
clouds drifting over an uninhabited
wooded valley.
 A whirlwind with broken and
bent trees.

5. In the painting "Cemetery"
the artist showed a visually
perceptible landscape lighting
specifics with the effects of the
atmosphere on the shape of the
objects.
A typical Latvian rural
summer landscape with a
panoramic space and a
horizontal direction.
«Cemetery»
1880. Oil / canvas, 56 x 45

6. «The River Gauja Valley»
1891. Oil / canvas, 111 x 173
Lush greenery with a spacious horizon and a river circling in the distance.
An idyllic, colorful landscape of Latvia.
River circling is associated with the landscape depicted on the former
Latvian 10-lat banknote.

7. VILHELMS PURVĪTIS
(1872-1945)
The founder of the Latvian National
Arts School and national landscape
painting.
«Spring waters». (Maestoso)
1910. Oil / canvas. 102,5 x 144
A landscape made from memory
using old works and sketches.
 Seven - nine large fields of color,
rhythmically arranged lines.
 Details are subjected to the
structure of the composition:
 water and sky patches,
 birch trunks looks like
classical columns,
 a peaceful flow of water
with ice.

8. It is the first known picture in oil by Purvītis showing typically
Latvian flood waters:
 looks like a lake;
 a birch grove with its reflection in the water;
 the colours of an early spring;
The painting “Spring Waters” started the history of Latvian
landscape painting.
Purvītis created the majestic canon of the national landscape.

9. A snowy landscape
with a characteristic
feeling of a Latvian
winter.
The trapped light
behind the clouds
creates a mysterious
and poetic atmosphere.
A masterful light
effect.
«Winter»
1910. Oil / canvas. 72 x 101,3

10. EDUARDS KALNIŅŠ
(1904-1988)
The most prominent Latvian marine
artist.
The painting «Raftsmen» won
the Rome Academy of Arts
Prize in 1935.
The artist's handwriting
combines realist and romantic
features.
The greyish River Daugava
and the surrounding port include
human figures.
Different shades of dark grey
light contrasts and shape
simplification. «Raftsmen»
1935. , Oil / canvas. 149,5x185

11. The painting «Raftsmen" captured and displayed the mood, typical
of the Baltic countries:
 rainy and cloudy days,
 reflections in the rainy waterfront and streets,
 a pale early morning fog by the sea,
 moist air and haze effects.

12. KONRĀDS UBĀNS
(1893-1981)
A master of an intimate
atmosphere and a sophisticated
colourist.
«Irbenes Street»
1932. Oil / canvas. 65,5x81
Impressionist.
Lyrical and romantic
atmosphere.
The artist recognized direct
and emotional experience.
The depth of winding
streets, low buildings.
The trees and shrubs
highlight the wildness.

13. «I've never tried to record a definite location. I`ve tried to show
the moments that have aroused some feelings. Not all need to be
displayed exactly like in nature. Nature should awaken an artist's
imagination. The most expressive things should be selected from
everything that has been observed and then used to compose a
piece of art.»
K.Ubāns

14. VALDIS KALNROZE
(1894 - 1993)
A master of subtle tonal
paintings.
«The Sea of Blue»
1968. Oil / canvas. 60x70
The composition highlights
some red accents, which
enliven the mood of the
painting.
The light and dark areas are
of a particular importance in
highlighting the harmony.
All kinds of greyish.

15. JŪLIJS MADERNIEKS
(1870-1955)
A colourful space is enclosed
by an outline.
The picture contains
geometric and ornamental
elements - visible Art Nouveau
features.
Various shades coming from
Latvian folk art appear in the
artist`s pictures.
«Autumn»
1929 , Paper, tempera, 28.00 x 25.00
A brilliant master of
Latvian ornament.

16. PĒTERIS UPĪTIS
(1899-1989)
 “The River Gauja” is a picture
from a thematic collection “The
Gauja “ (1956 – 1962) - a lyrical
depiction of Latvian nature.
 The artist created a monumental
and poetic image of nature,
emphasizing the contrast of black
and white.
 Latvian nature was a symbol of
patriotism and inspiration for the
artist.
 The horizon is high as if it were
seen from a bird's flight.
A remarkable Latvian Ex-Libris
master.
«The River Gauja. Spriņģu Rock»
1957. Paper, engraving. 22 x 31

17. KĀRLIS MIESNIEKS
(1887— 1977)
The picture shows the
value of a Latvian farmer`s
work in rural life.
The psychological aspect
dominates in the landscape -
the presence of human work
is felt in the picture.
The artist has a genuine
attitude to the real life in the
country.
«The Daily Bread»
1929. Oil / canvas, 176x146
A representative of Latvian
realistic painting school. Studied
painting in Paris and Berlin.

18. KĀRLIS ŠAUMANIS
(1905 - 1971)
The artist painted a wide range
of topics - still lives, landscapes,
figurative images, portraits.
Focused on idealizing the old
times.
Painted Latvians dressed in
their national costumes.
«The Bride» shows Latvian
wedding traditions.
«The Bride»
Oil / canvas. 61x76,5
In 1944 the artist
emigrated to Germany and
then to the U.S.

19. ĀRIJS SKRIDE
(1906-1987)
One of the most remarkable follower
of Vilhelms Purvitis and his
landscape painting school.
«The delivery of the Crops»
1949. Oil / canvas, 95x125
One of the most remarkable
painting about the state farms
in the countryside.
A greyish-greenish
background with brightly
painted grain carts and people
dressed in colorful clothes in
the center of the painting.
 However, the landscape is
of a primary role.

20. INTA DOBRĀJA
(1940)
Harmony and love of the
Latvian way of life and traditions
through generations.
The artist finds values ​​in
everyday life.
Through the beautiful, feminine
and eternal the artist speaks
about continuity, vitality and
harmony.
«Rural Madonna»
1986. Oil / canvas, 140x120
The Union of Latvian
Artists' member.

21. KĀRLIS SŪNIŅŠ
(1907-1979)
The artist has a spiritual
intimacy to the Latvian
folklore.
The painting shows a
panoramic landscape with a
hazy horizon and white cloud
mountains in the sky.
Lightness and mysterious
effect.
Latvian painter, one of the Latvian
watercolor school makers after World
War II. 1930s painted decoration panel
in tempera technique of residence of
the President.
«Winter Evening »
1957. Paper, watercolor.

22. JĀNIS GAILIS
(1903-1975)
The sea is a symbol of
the artist`s homeland.
For this reason, the
red-white-red color areas
in the centre of the
picture remind us of the
Latvian flag.
The clouds are coming
forward to the viewer.
«A Colourful Evening»
Oil / canvas, 81 x 107
A landscape and marine artist. In
1944 he went in exile to Germany.

23. JĀNIS BREKTE
(1920-1985)
One of the most prolific and the
most popular water-color artist.
 The artist loved to paint
Riga.
 Shows the changes of Riga
in 35 years.
 Blue-grey colours topped
with red accents.
With the help of colours
the artist perfectly portrayed
the romantic atmosphere and
mood of the streets in Old
Riga.
«Old Town»
1973, Paper/watercolor. 61x46

24. JURĢIS SKULME
(1928)
The painting reflects
the Latvian natural
beauty.
A greyish landscape
with a bright horizon.
Atmospheric lightness.
"Landscape painting is
the closest to
poetry,” ​​says the artist.
«Lake Ķīšezers»
2008. Oil / canvas. 56 x 71
A painter and art historian.

25. ALEKSEJS NAUMOVS
(1955)
Frost and pearly shades of
glimmering cold landscape.
The city opens in a magic way.
One can feel the energy of the
place.
The painting was painted in
nature without any sketches.
«Ķīpsala»
2011. Acrylic / canvas, 110x130
Studied at the Sorbonne
University in Paris.

26. The Latvian perception of the world plays an important role for
landscape painters. Since Latvia has historically been an agrarian
country, human life has always been associated with:
 farmsteads,
 fields,
 forests
 the Baltic sea.
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27. The contemporary Latvian artists confirm the presence of the
concept of national identity in contemporary art.
Nowadays classical landscape painting school in Latvia with its
realist perception of the landscape is alive and thriving, proving that
The nation's deep love for nature is alive.
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28. THANK YOU FOR
ATTENTION!
Solvita Kukle
Inese Bramane
Associaton “Rural Partnership Selija”
Latvia
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