Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Watercolor on paper. 1972.
Signature: R. Uutmaa 1972.a.

“A house by the sea
always feels like it is a ship,
barely ashore.
Every night, it goes wandering
across endless oceans,
times and spaces.”

Excerpt from Doris Kareva’s poem “A house by the Sea”

Richard Uutmaa (1905-1977) has mostly painted the seaside landscapes of Altja (where he was born) and Eisma (where he had his summer home) – either windy, with white-crested waves; even quite stormy under a pitch-black sky; or with views of calm summer and autumn days. The crisp compositions feature the familiar pine trees shaped by the wind, large and small stones, sand dunes, boats and sailboats, fishermen, net menders, seaside sheds and houses. All of them are connected by the ever-present sea, which influences them with its moods.

In Uutmaa’s watercolors, the artist’s light, flying brushstrokes give airiness and transparency to both the water and the sky. The author usually leaves at least half of the picture surface for the latter, which gives the composition a great sense of spaciousness. This piece stands out for its perspective. Above all, Uutmaa conveys the beauty of coastal life here, tells us of the view that wakes its inhabitants up every morning in new colors, of the sandy coast to which the water brings new messages every evening, and of the indescribable peace that the endless echo of the sea brings with it.

Text: Vappu Thurlow, Katre Palm