Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Etching, aquatint on paper. 1964.
Signature: Tänapäev. Eesti. Ofort, akvatinta / EOkas 964

In his 1964 print “Today. Estonia”, Evald Okas (1915-2011) unexpectedly presents himself as a modern artist. Industrial landscapes are abundant in his repertoire but, as is typical of Okas’ energetic hand, they are full of spontaneously flying lines. In this design, which combines etching and aquatint, he builds the composition on a refreshingly linear base instead.

By combining strong, broad contour lines in the foreground with delicate lines in the background that fade almost to nothing on the horizon, he creates the illusion of an endless landscape. The vast sky, glowing against the dense maze of power lines, creates a perfect backdrop to bring out the image of a developed, modern city.

Text: Katre Palm