Oskar Georg Adolf Hoffmann 1851–1912 Tartu turg.

“Tartu turg” by Oskar Hoffmann is a realistic picture in the traditions of the 19.century, being full of details. It has been said that baker’s son Hoffmann used his memory to create the human types that he required in his art, and that was also the case with the Tartu market. Also later, while living abroad, Hoffmann traveled several times back to his hometown in order to paint people. The work, bearing the same name, which has been deposited in the Art Museum of Estonia, also contains a plenty of details and renders a large variety of different human types. In the work can also be seen the famous Rembrandt – style soft handling of the light. Still, the artist has joined in a surprisingly small format an historical document and his brilliant painting technique.