In Focus
On this page, Haus Gallery highlights artworks, artists, and themes in artworks that we find especially significant – both in the current moment and from the perspective of art history. These focus selections are ever-changing and reflect the gallery’s long-standing experience in art appreciation, analyses and expertise.
The gallery’s extensive exhibition presentations, artwork collections, and archives may hold fascinating material that might otherwise go unnoticed. This “Focus” page serves as a guide – drawing attention to specific works and artists to encourage deeper analysis and shared engagement with art.
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JAAN ELKEN
Jaan Elken (b. 1954) is a living classic, an indispensable spirit in Estonian art life, already inscribed into the history of art – in his multifaceted role as an artist, teacher, and critic. Elken’s works are sought after by collectors and have achieved international recognition.
Jaan Elken has recently completed two new and intriguing artworks – The Essence of Baroque I. and The Essence of Baroque II. (both made in 2024–2025) – which are currently at Haus Gallery.
But what is the essence of the Baroque art, something that can also be conveyed through an abstract image? Is it a theme, a motif, a composition, a certain mood or an aesthetic perception? In Elken’s case, it seems to be drama and movement, abundance and emotional intensity. Here we see impasto surfaces and the beauty of contrasts, where heavy, dark tones alternate with light and bright pastel colors. The result is an abstract symphony, where brushstrokes and flowing colors seem to move to a musical rhythm, capturing the grand elegance at the very heart of Baroque art.
