Alfred Hirv
(1880 - 1918)
Natüürmort. 1909
Oil on canvas. 54 x 62 cm
Starting price 10 897 (sold)
After the trips to Paris and Spain arrives Hirv’s artistic peak, which lasts during the years 1907-1909, when are being made the artist’s most important works, appear remarkable reproductions and invitations to exhibitions are sent out. Young Estonian artists, having studied in St.Petersburg at the same time have remembered, how they planned their trips to the Daziaro and Avanco art stores, on the windows of which were “the paintings of Hoffmann, Klever and Hirv”. Works by Hirv, having been accomplished during the mentioned period, have been regarded as proof of how “is reflected the artist’s attachment towards the subject and how in the forwarding of the material can be detected the craftmanship and technical lightness” (Tassa), here can been seen “the freshness and joy of painting” (Marina Raup) and “the world of sensual, abundant and beautiful, but at the same time organized objects” (Tiina Abel).
“Natüürmort”, having been painted during the artistic peak of Alfred Hirv, reflects brilliantly the artist’s serious, extremely engrossed and at the same time creative approach. Certainly from one side should be noticed the skilful depiction of Hirv’s favourite motives (grapes, woven basket, bottle), from another side the extremely succulent and nuance - rich use of colours. Hirv (whose violin playing and subtle musical sense was remembered by Kristjan Raud also decades later), plays here actually on a counted number of colour notes, but does it in the manner which justifies the opinion of art scientists, according to who “at the beginning of the century there were hardly any artists in St.Petersburg, who were equal with him in painting still-lives”.