Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Eduard Wiiralt (1898-1954) expert and art historian Mai Levin writes about this piece: “Wiiralt created his masterpiece in the mezzotint technique based on numerous drawings of the little Tallinn girl Monika Pootsik in the second half of 1942. In the first version, the girl had a tie on her head, in the second a veil. We also find the girl’s portrait on a brooch, which is why the design itself tells the story of the girl’s transformation from a child into young woman.”

“Monika” was praised already in the year of its completion, which is also mentioned in the 2013 “History of Estonian Art”, volume 6, part 1, with the words: “At the 1942 autumn exhibition at the Tallinn Art Hall, Eduard Wiiralt’s portraited generalizations on Estonian subjects stood out as significant works. Two works titled “Estonian Girl” (one in color, the other in soft varnish) and the mezzotint “Monika” (at the exhibition also called “Girl with Flowers”).

The latter, a compositionally unique piece with a triple portrait repetition, which is technically the pinnacle of E. Wiiralt’s mezzotint approach, later began to be appreciated more and more, and “Monika” was also successful in post-war France.”

Text: Katre Palm