Eduarda Kalniņa gleznu izstādes katalogs : no 12.–26. februārim 1939 : galvas pilsētas Rīgas mākslas muzejā (Catalogue for the Exhibition of Paintings by Eduards Kalniņš : from 12 to 26 February 1939: Riga City Museum of Art)

Fine condition; several fingerprints on the cover.

Printed on coated stuff.

The first solo exhibition of paintings by Eduards Kalniņš was held in the Riga City Art Museum in February 1939. He received grant to study in Italy from August 1935 to September 1936, and 114 paintings introduced at the current exhibition was the review of his time spent in Italy. The Italian sun, bright light and contrasting shadows changed his Baltic light based art. Gone was the somewhat gloomy greyness, colouring became richer and more sophisticated. With the full-blown sparkling of lighter and more brilliant colours and decorative accents, the brush strokes became more supple and the drawing more impressionistic. Sunny landscapes with motifs of the local architecture, ancient buildings, lazy ox-carts and opulent still-lifes with bottles of wine, lemons and greenish Mediterranean frutti di mare sparkle in the saturated colourfulness and feeling for the celebration of life that is Italy.

The contemporaries of Eduards Kalniņš (1904 -1988) gave his art the stamp of "classic" while he was still alive. The "Kalniņš legend" is a combination of many notions – talented landscapist, pupil of Vilhelms Purvītis, the first winner of the Latvian Academy of Art Rome Prize, grand master of hazy grey Baltic Sea marine painting, consistent advocate of the principles of plein air and tonal painting, long standing teacher at the Academy of Art, influential figure in art circles.  Certain character traits have united at the core of Kalniņš’s artistic individuality: the features of a realist and a romantic, emotional and rational origins, respect for the traditions of the national school and openness to innovation, the ability and will to change flexibly in following the demands dictated by his inner self or by the age.

Exhibition catalogue includes short text by artist Romans Suta introducing exhibition aims and works, list of exhibits and nine full-page illustrations reproducing artworks shown at the exhibition.