Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Mixed media on paper. 1944.
Signature: Rapla 4.8.44. / R Nyman / “Heinaküün” R. Nyman

Roman Nyman (1881-1951) has gone down in Estonian art history as one of the first professional scenographers but alongside his career as a theatre artist, he painted numerous Estonian landscapes, rural areas, and sights he saw on his travels since the first decade of the 20th century. During World War II, Nyman was particularly fascinated by the old Estonian farm – for him it meant visualizing the identity of Estonians despite the evil times.

This hay barn with old birch trees in the background is part of a series of works by Roman Nyman depicting old Estonian farms completed in the first half of the 1940s. The pastel-colored drawing is rendered with the artist’s characteristic attention to detail, as for him every old building had its own soul and character. This was largely why Nyman got on very well with Günther Reindorff who also enjoyed the charm of old farm buildings and simple natural motifs.

Text: Harry Liivrand