Johannes Võerahansu

Johannes Võerahansu’s becoming of an artist is undoubtedly strange. Educational road, which seems at the first glance straightforward and the continuation of art studies at the beginning of the 1920ies at Ants Laikmaa went nicely as planned, already took place the first exhibitions together with other Laikmaa students and in the review were separately mentioned Võerahansu’s landscapes. Still, this period was followed by a breaking line with the duration of ten years, an apparent staying away from art and concentration on different jobs. This also includes working during the period of 1930-1932 in the ceramics and brick factory at Türi.
“Mees pottsepakedraga” belongs to Võerahansu’s extremely rare creational period. This has most probably been painted during the time Võerahansu already studied in “Pallas” and the number of works, which were painted then and which have preserved until now is almost non-existent. While talking about the present painting, there are mainly two aspects that make us wonder. Firstly the clear stressing of the skilful painting technique, the unconcealed talent, which is most vividly reflected in the composition and enjoyable colour inebriation. But the second aspect is more personal and most prabably even deeper. It makes us wonder, how Võerahansu has decided to reflect through this painting himself and his working at a job, being so far from painting. This is an honest and slightly melancholic glance back into himself during the time, when the official art status was still waiting ahead.