Ants Laikmaa
Encyclopedia
Ants Laikmaa was an Estonia
n painter.
and Lihula
. His mother died when he was a child. Laikmaa discovered early his interest in painting. He studied from 1891 to 1893 and 1896/97 at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
. From 1897 to 1899 he was working in Düsseldorf. In autumn of 1899 he returned to Tallinn
.
From 1900 to 1907 Laikmaa worked as an artist in Tallinn and Haapsalu. Study led him to Belgium, France, Austria, Finland and the Netherlands. 1901 he organized the first ever Estonian art exhibition in Tallinn, 1906 followed by the first art exhibition in Tartu
. 1903, he founded a studio in Tallinn. 1907 he founded the Estonian Art Association (Eesti Kunstiselts).
In 1904 the 38-year-old Laikmaa met the great love of his life, the 21-year-old Marie Hacker, who later changed her name to Marie Under
, one of the best-known poets of the time. In the same year he painted two portraits of her, counted as the most famous of Laikmaa paintings.
From 1907 to 1909 he was mainly in Finland. 1909 to 1913 he traveled to the major art cities in Europe. He lived from 1910 to 1912 in Capri and Tunisia. From 1913 to 1931 Laikmaa worked as a freelance artist and art teacher in Tallinn. 1927 his only daughter Aino Marie (later Anu Kilpiö, died 1969) was born, a child of his model "Miku". 1932 Laikmaa settled in the vicinity of Taebla in Lääne County
, on his farm in Kadarpiku village designed with a 7-hectare park, where he remained and worked until the end of his life.
Ants Laikmaa died in November 1942 in Kadarpiku, where he is also buried. Laikmaa remained unmarried all his life. His farm was opened in 1960 as a museum to his life and work.
(Eesti Rahva Muuseum) in Tartu.
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
n painter.
Life
Ants Laikmaa (until 1935 Hans Laipman) was as the 13th child of a poor Estonian family. He attended schools in Vigala, HaapsaluHaapsalu
Haapsalu is a seaside resort town located on the west coast of Estonia. It's the administrative centre of Lääne County and has a population of 11,618 ....
and Lihula
Lihula
Lihula is a town in Estonia with population of 1,614 . It is a centre of a rural municipality in Lääne County.The castle of Leal was first mentioned in 1211. It was the centre of Diocese Saare-Lääne...
. His mother died when he was a child. Laikmaa discovered early his interest in painting. He studied from 1891 to 1893 and 1896/97 at the Düsseldorf Art Academy
Kunstakademie Düsseldorf
The Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, formerly Staatliche Kunstakademie Düsseldorf, is the Arts Academy of the city of Düsseldorf. It is well known for having produced many famous artists, such as Joseph Beuys, Gerhard Richter, Sigmar Polke, Thomas Demand, and Andreas Gursky...
. From 1897 to 1899 he was working in Düsseldorf. In autumn of 1899 he returned to Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
.
From 1900 to 1907 Laikmaa worked as an artist in Tallinn and Haapsalu. Study led him to Belgium, France, Austria, Finland and the Netherlands. 1901 he organized the first ever Estonian art exhibition in Tallinn, 1906 followed by the first art exhibition in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
. 1903, he founded a studio in Tallinn. 1907 he founded the Estonian Art Association (Eesti Kunstiselts).
In 1904 the 38-year-old Laikmaa met the great love of his life, the 21-year-old Marie Hacker, who later changed her name to Marie Under
Marie Under
Marie Under was one of the greatest Estonian poets.-Early life:...
, one of the best-known poets of the time. In the same year he painted two portraits of her, counted as the most famous of Laikmaa paintings.
From 1907 to 1909 he was mainly in Finland. 1909 to 1913 he traveled to the major art cities in Europe. He lived from 1910 to 1912 in Capri and Tunisia. From 1913 to 1931 Laikmaa worked as a freelance artist and art teacher in Tallinn. 1927 his only daughter Aino Marie (later Anu Kilpiö, died 1969) was born, a child of his model "Miku". 1932 Laikmaa settled in the vicinity of Taebla in Lääne County
Lääne County
Lääne County , or Läänemaa , is one of 15 counties of Estonia. It is located in western Estonia and borders Baltic Sea to the north, Harju County to the north-east, Rapla County to the east, Pärnu County to the south, and the island counties of Saare and Hiiu to the west...
, on his farm in Kadarpiku village designed with a 7-hectare park, where he remained and worked until the end of his life.
Ants Laikmaa died in November 1942 in Kadarpiku, where he is also buried. Laikmaa remained unmarried all his life. His farm was opened in 1960 as a museum to his life and work.
Work
Ants Laikmaa is best known for his watercolor painting. He brought impressionism to Estonia, and often painted landscapes, mostly with sharp colors. His portraits of the intellectual and artistic elite of Estonia are also well known. He was also politically active. Above all, he promoted the training and promotion of Estonian art and was one of the founders of the Estonian National MuseumEstonian National Museum
The Estonian National Museum founded 1909 in Tartu is a museum devoted to folklorist Jakob Hurt's heritage, to Estonian ethnography and folk art...
(Eesti Rahva Muuseum) in Tartu.
Best-known works
- Self Portrait (1902)
- Lääne neiu (1903)
- Portrait of Marie Under (1904)
- Vigala Country (1904)
- Portrait of August Kitzberg (1915)