Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Bronze. 1952-53.

Sculptor Endel Taniloo (1923-2019) who was guided by classical values, spent his entire successful career in Tartu where he created monumental works, decorative sculptures, and fascinating portraits. His diploma work “The Basketball Player” became one of the most well-known works in the history of Estonian sculpture, opening the door for the young artist to join the great names of the art world.

In Taniloo’s portraits, decorative and psychological components merge into a lyrical whole, as in this piece as well as the aforementioned head of the legendary “The Basketball Player.” The sculptor planned the design for a long time, using different models for different body parts, and Taniloo also completed the head figure in motion, with flowing curls, as a separate part.

The female head, with its characteristic silhouette and life-like modeling, is stylized, emphasizing the aesthetic aspect typical of the artist’s work. The sculptor has managed to cast in bronze not only the willpower and energy of a specific model but also the overall tenacity of the Estonian woman in all her beauty.

Text: Katre Palm, Harry Liivrand