Kristjan Raud

Kristjan Raud (born 10 Oktoberjul / 22 October 1865greg in the village Kirikuküla, then the parish of St. Jakobi, .. † May 19, 1943 in Tallinn ) was an Estonian - German painter and graphic artist.

Life

Kristjan Raud studied from 1892 to 1897 at the Academy of Arts in Saint Petersburg. He then visited 1897/98, the Dusseldorf Art Academy as a student of Peter Janssen, from 1899 to 1901 then the private painting school of Anton Ažbe in Munich, finally from 1901 to 1903 the Munich Academy of Art.

From 1904 to 1914 Raud lived in Livonia Dorpat, where he opened his own studio in 1904. From 1914 until his death he lived in Tallinn. Numerous tours have taken him abroad, including from 1909 to Finland and Germany in 1922 and 1926 to Paris.

Art Life

Kristjan Raud was involved since the beginning of the 20th century for a more dynamic artistic life in Estonia. He organized the first art exhibitions in the area of present-day Estonia and brought the folk art to the attention of Estonian artists. Raud it was to raise the artistic level of the wider population in Estonia. Raud was one of the founders of the Estonian National Museum ( Eesti Rahva Muuseum ) in Tartu and ran from 1909 to 1913 whose folklore collection. Active, he participated in the Noor - Eesti movement.

In Tallinn Raud led the branch of the Estonian National Museum and was responsible for the great ethnographic field mission in 1920. He taught from 1923 to 1936 at the State School of Applied Arts ( Riiklik Kunsttööstuskool ). From 1928 Kristjan Raud lived in what is now Tallinn District Nõmme, where a year later he opened his own studio ( now a museum ).

The year 1940 was declared by the Republic of Estonia to Kristjan Raud - year, in honor of the 75th birthday of the artist. Since 1969, recalls in Tallinn a monument to him.

Artistic work

Kristjan Raud has created a versatile oeuvre, ranging from pencil drawings on bookplates, book illustrations up to oil and tempera paintings. He also used gouache and watercolor techniques.

Subjects of his works were often the simple rural life in Estonia. Particularly his depictions of Estonian farmers have Raud famous. In addition, its stays are reflected at the Estonian Baltic Sea coast, particularly evident on the Pakri Islands and the island Muhu, in his works. Raud also took the Estonian folk tales and scenes from the Estonian mythology and gave them with drawings of ghosts, trolls and gnomes a pictorial expression.

Intensive dedicated to Raud the illustration of the Estonian national epic Kalevipoeg. From 1913 to 1917 he worked on behalf of the Estonian Literary Society ( Eesti Kirjanduse Selts ) on a deluxe edition of Kalevipoeg. Between 1913 and his death in 1943 resulted in several hundred spring and charcoal drawings. The illustrated edition of Raud the Kalevipoeg appeared in 1935 (reprinted 1975) and was a great success. At the World Exhibition in Paris in 1937 he received for the Grand prix. Raud still showed up in the 1930s than later followers of the national romanticism. He sought all his life to give his work a popular style.

Kristjan Raud - price

Since 1973, Kristjan Raud - Prize to most four artists for outstanding performance by the Estonian Artists Association ( Eesti art Nike Liit ) and the city of Tallinn is awarded annually.

Private life

Kristjan Raud was married to Elviira Raud. The couple had three children. Kristjan Raud is the older twin brother of the Estonian painter Paul Raud.