Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Woodcut on paper. 1949.
Signature: “Korvpall” puugravüür 1949 / Richard Kaljo

The theme of sports captivated Richard Kaljo (1914-1978) for decades and the first works in the series, “Basketball” and “Boxing” from 1949, have become separate and significant stages in the artist’s portfolio. A high-quality woodcut of a basketball game is a pure capture of a situational scene, a dynamic depiction of a breakthrough with the ball.

Kaljo gives each player his own character, each pose is individualized and not repeated by his neighbor. Of course, the competition takes place in a sports hall but interestingly, we do not see Communist Party slogans or a photo of the Great Leader on the walls – Kaljo’s work in its time is boldly apolitical, which we can freely transfer to the present day.

The print is reproduced in the catalogue section of the exhibition “Richard Kaljo. Stories in Prints and Letters” held at Kumu in 2014-2015, page 148.

Text: Harry Liivrand, Katre Palm