Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Woodcut on paper. 1961.
Signature: “Kohvik” puugravüür 1961 / RKaljo

Richard Kaljo (1914-1978) used both linocut and dry-point but his main technique was woodcut with which he created figural compositions, portraits, nudes and city views. The famous and colorful “Lunchbreak” (1960) was followed by the equally lush “Café” – a characteristic scene of life at that time.

In one of Kaljo’s most famous works, the ladies wear modern bowler hats and kimono-style coats, and the author has also hidden himself in the work – a little trick that Kaljo had used before. The waitress’ clothing, furniture and the cat that entered from the street refer to the café Tallinn on the ground floor of the Feischner house but the orchestra refers to the café Moskva (formerly known as Kultas).

The print was chosen as the cover image for the book accompanying the 2014 Kumu exhibition “Richard Kaljo. Stories in Prints and Letters” and has also been reproduced as a repro (p. 128).

Text: Mai Levin, Katre Palm