Eesti kunsti oksjonid
Joann Saarniit “Uus ümbrus”/”Cat in the church”
Sügisoksjon 2025
Oil on masonite. 1969.
Signature: Joann Saarniit 1969 / Joann Saarniit 1969 “Uus ümbrus” “CAT IN THE CHURCH” originaal
| Measurements | 91 x 121,5 cm |
|---|---|
| Starting price | 2 800 € |
| Number of bids | 53 |
| Hammer price | 15 100 € |
Joann Saarniit (1909-1984), an alumnus of the Tallinn School of Applied Arts, had a very successful career as a painter in Canada. Developing his characteristic sharp-edged formwork and richly mixed, mosaic-like, brightly colored surface-coating technique, the talented Saarniit became one of the most exceptional painters in Estonian art history, and his rediscovery in his native country continues to this day.
The painting before us is an example of a scene that leans towards absurdity and surrealism, although it could still take place in reality. While the cat is painted recognizably, the church space is more reminiscent of a fantasy interior. This kind of creation of one’s own world was very characteristic of Saarniit – the views that made it into the painting were often fragments of domestic memories, objects that were currently on his horizon, and the fantasy that was swirling in the artist’s head. An extremely exciting work!
Text: Harry Liivrand