Gustav Mägi

(1914 - 1994)

Kunstnik ja modell. 1950

Oil on canvas. 60 x 85 cm
Starting price 2 014 (sold)


Gustav Mägi "Kunstnik ja modell"

Gustav Mägi was a student of “Pallas” and left Estonia during WW II. Because of that reason there was a blank of any information of him and closing of the eye regarding his creation in the local art history for decades. He is one of the most outstanding experimentors among the Estonian artists living abroad, who used actively the experience of the avant-garde art of the 20. century. “Kunstnik ja modell”, which was most probably painted in the second half of the 1950ies, is a room deformation, influenced by Gustav Mägi – style of cubist influences, concealing the conspiracy of colours. The dialogue of an artist and a model is transferred into a powerful room illusion, which has been created by extraordinary means, where the classical model of perspective has been replaced by the logic of broken level surfaces. Mägi does not let any of the discovered trick develop till the end, but uses on the whole painting surface the ethics of disruption, where single fragments, which depict the room under different angles, have been packed together in order to surprise continuously, to twist a curve into the common routines. But let’s also pay attention to the colours and manner, in which Mägi spreads different shades onto the canvas. He slides smoothly from one end of the palette to another, concentrating on the rhythm of the colours and inquiring colour masses, devoid from the pure light-shadow effects. Let’s also compare the differences, which are caused by the differences of the horizontal and vertical brush strikes on the clothes of the artist and the model in order to be convinced: reading of a painting can always be restarted.

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Appearance in auctions

In the Tram
Gustav Mägi
In the Tram
1950s. Oil, masonite 48 x 35 cm (framed)
ESTONIAN EARLIER ART CLASSICS AUCTION - FALL 2021 Haus Gallery 06.11.2021
1 500
Final price: 4 400
(sold)"> (sold)Jalgratturid
Gustav Mägi
Jalgratturid
1949. 26 x 40 cm (framed)
Haus Gallery's Autumn Auction Haus Gallery 01.11.2018
800
Final price: 800
(sold)"> (sold)Tütarlaps lindudega
Gustav Mägi
Tütarlaps lindudega
1950-1960. oil on board 64 x 40.5 cm (framed)
HAUS GALLERY XL AUCTION, AUTUMN 2016. Haus Gallery 28.10.2016
950
Final price: 950
(sold)"> (sold)Kunstnik ja modell
Gustav Mägi
Kunstnik ja modell
1950. Oil on canvas 60 x 85 cm
HAUS GALLERY XIVth ART AUCTION, 2004 spring Haus Gallery 04.04.2004
1 534
Final price: 2 013
Interjöörid
Gustav Mägi
Interjöörid
undated. 80 x 147 cm
HAUS / IX AUCTION, 2001 autumn Haus Gallery 20.10.2001
1 342
Final price:

Appearance in exhibitions

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