Eesti kunsti oksjonid

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

Richard Kaljo (1914-1978) also practiced both linocut and drypoint but his main technique was woodcut in which he created figural compositions, portraits, nudes and city views. The colorful “Lunch break” from 1960 was followed by the equally lush “Café” – a characteristic scene of life at that time.

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

The print “Café” was chosen as the cover image for the book accompanying the 2014 Kumu exhibition “Richard Kaljo. Stories in Prints and Letters” and is also reproduced as a repro on page 128. This particular print comes to auction directly from the artist’s family estate.

Text: Mai Levin, Katre Palm