Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on plywood. 1936.
Signature: K. Doll 1936 / Kivimurd. K. Doll

Karl Tael (Doll until 1941, 1894-1975) was known, in addition to his work as an artist, as an engraving master of the State Printing House, a designer of banknotes and postage stamps, and also as the author of numerous portraits of Estonian cultural figures in the classical copper engravingstyle.

The clear-cut painting “The Quarry” is a characteristic example of Tael’s painting style, which was mostly in soft tones and told stories of people’s everyday activities, in this case work in the quarry. Under the artist’s hand, however, the scene becomes poetic in a way, the people working in it become their own, and the warm light refers more to romantic southern countries than to home Estonia. However, it is Estonia, but which place in particular remains to be seen…

Text: Mai Levin, Katre Palm