Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on plywood. 1960s.
Signature: Lembit

Lembit Sarapuu’s (1930-2024) early nude painting is a masterpiece that exudes sensuality. Alongside Evald Okas and Olev Subbi, Sarapuu is a master of Estonian nude paintings but the way he views and depicts women differs from the glamorous approach of his contemporaries. Sarapuu’s female nude is simpler in composition, color, and painting technique – putting the woman herself first, as she is, in this case, a sleeping beauty.

In this way, the artist achieves a powerful and sensitive result where nothing else matters. Even shadows in the usual sense are absent from the model, she herself seems to lie on the shadow. Thus, Sarapuu takes us on an unearthly journey, as if into a dream that a beautiful young woman herself could see behind her closed eyes.

Text: Harry Liivrand