Eesti kunsti oksjonid
Eduard Wiiralt “Okaapid”
Kevadoksjon 2025
Aquatint on paper. 1949.
Signature: EWIIRALT 1949 / 14/200 / E. Wiiralt
| Measurements | plm 25 x 43,6 cm |
|---|---|
| Starting price | 3 900 € |
| Number of bids | 5 |
| Hammer price | 5 100 € |
Word of the detailed and heartfelt animal portraits of the talented Parisian-based Estonian graphic artist Eduard Wiiralt (1898-1954) spread quickly among art lovers and in the spring of 1949, a publishing house in Geneva commissioned the artist to produce a series of four engravings of animals. “Okapi” was the first on which Wiiralt began to work diligently, nd thus a series of drawings were completed at the Paris Zoo, on the basis of which the first prints were made in the autumn of the same year.
10 consecutive days with graceful okapi allowed the artist, in addition to accurately capturing the figure and movement, to notice the relationships between the animal family and to bring out the character in each member. Therefore, the viewer will find in the print both the most conservative and the most proud member, the gentle enjoyer of life and the obedient herd animal. The next design in the same series was the majestic “Lion Family”.
The print is reproduced in Mai Levin’s monograph “Eduard Wiiralt 1898-1954”, page 279 and is also part of the collection of the Art Museum of Estonia.
Text: Katre Palm