PAINTINGS – JANIS ROZENTĀLS
PRESS RELEASE
The exhibition of Latvian artist Janis Rozentāls (1866–1916) features paintings from 1895 to 1916. Rozentāls’ work is regarded as one of the most significant contributions to Latvian visual art at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. His art spans a wide range of media, including oil, tempera, and watercolor painting, as well as pastels and graphic works. Rozentāls also illustrated books, designed covers, and created vignettes. During his lifetime, he was one of Latvia’s most respected and popular artists.
Like many Latvian artists, Rozentāls studied at the St. Petersburg Academy of Arts (1888–1894), where he gained professional skills within the framework of Russian realism. While in St. Petersburg, he joined a group of Latvian students who formed the “Rubis” (The Toiler) group, dedicated to fostering Latvian national culture based on traditional heritage and national identity. In line with this mission, Rozentāls depicted rural life, religious and mythological themes, and created portraits of both peasants and urban cultural figures.
During a visit to Finland in 1897, Rozentāls encountered the works of Albert Edelfelt, Akseli Gallen-Kallela, and Eero Järnefelt. Gallen-Kallela’s Kalevala-inspired works particularly influenced Rozentāls, encouraging him to explore Latvian mythology and folklore in his art.
Beyond his artistic achievements, Rozentāls was a prominent figure in Latvian cultural life. His studio became a popular meeting place for literary, musical, and artistic circles, attracting both Latvian and Finnish cultural figures. In 1906, he established a private studio in Riga, where many of Latvia’s future leading artists studied under his guidance. Rozentāls also contributed to the cultural scene as an art critic.
The works on display are primarily on loan from the Latvian National Museum of Art, which holds a significant portion of Rozentāls’ extensive oeuvre. Additionally, the exhibition includes a few pieces borrowed from collections in Finland.
Translated with ChatGPT