Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on canvas. 1934-36.
Signature: R. Uutman

The early paintings of Richard Uutmaa (1905-1977) are a real treat for fans of the artist’s work – there is a unique freshness to the emerging talent. Uutmaa’s painting style in the 1930s was typically Palladian and his graduation paintings “Fishermen” and “Coastal landscape with fishermen” received positive reviews from critics (they were later acquired by the Tartu Art Museum).

The artist’s own early paintings were ultimately few in his possession, as most of them ended up in the vaults of museums and private collections. This was also the case with the sensitive coastal view “Before the lightning”, which left Estonia in 1944 with its new owner, the well-known actress Milli Nõmtak. The latter’s art collection included other high-quality works, including those by Johannes Võerahansu and Elmar Kits. These pieces also emigrated to Canada with the actress.

In the painting, we see the fine brushstrokes characteristic of Uutmaa’s style at the time, which he later began to spread out more and more until it became completely broad by the 1940s. Although the eye is first focused on the beach full of boats, it is interesting to observe how Uutmaa has solved the depiction of the sky, which, characteristic of his paintings from the 1930s, takes up almost two-thirds of the painting. It is already noticeable here that it is precisely in the clouds that he truly unleashes his creativity and something unique is born – no one tells him how to depict them or what the right or wrong approach is – he is free and creative. Thus, by drawing thread-thin lines, an unusually sensitive sky is created, where the softness of the clouds is expressed by the barely noticeable warm yellow of the sun.

The work was exhibited at the exhibition dedicated to the 120th anniversary of Richard Uutmaa’s birth at Allee Gallery (September-October 2025) and is reproduced in the accompanying short monograph-catalogue written by Mai Levin, pages 14 and 50.

Text: Mai Levin, Katre Palm