Nationality Estonian Name Konrad Magi | Movement Landscape art (mainly) | |
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Full Name Konrad Vilhelm Magi Born 1 November 1878 Hellenurme Manor, Rongu Parish, Tartu County (now in Palupera Parish, Valga County) Died 15 August 1925
Tartu, Estonia | ||
Konrad Mägi 1878 – 1925
Konrad Vilhelm Magi (1 November 1878 – 15 August 1925) was an Estonian painter, primarily known for his landscape work. He was one of the most colour-sensitive Estonian painters of the first decades of the 20th century, and Magi's works on motifs of the island of Saaremaa are the first modern Estonian nature paintings.
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Life and works
Magi received his elementary art education from the drawing courses of the German Artisans' Society of Tartu (1899–1902.) At the same time, he was keenly engaged in theater, violin, and various sports.
Magi continued his art education as an unattached student in Saint Petersburg (1903–1905), studying under Amandus Adamson. In the autumn of 1907, he went to Paris. There Magi studied at a free academy. From 1908 to 1910, he lived in Norway. In 1912, Magi returned to Tartu, where he worked as an art teacher.
In Aland, he created delicate plant vignettes in the style of Art Nouveau: Kahekesi (Two together; 1908; China ink drawing). In Paris, Magi was influenced by Impressionism and Fauvism, which had a significant impact on his colours: Lilleline vali majakesega (A flower field with a little house; 1908–1909), Norra maastik manniga (A Norwegian landscape with a pine; 1910).
From 1918, the influence of Expressionism is manifest, fostered by Magi's extreme sensitivity and emotional response to the anxious times: Puhajarv (Lake Puha); (1918–1920), Otepaa maastik (Landscape of Otepaa; (1918–1920). Also influenced by Expressionism are his big figure compositions Pieta (1919), Kolgata (Golgatha) (1921).
Magi's new artistic period, begun on a trip to Italy, brought calmer tempers: Varemed Capril (Ruins in Capri; 1922–1923). Along with nature pictures, he painted flowers and portraits. Magi's mostly beautiful female models express the Art Nouveau ideal of beauty: Holsti (1916). In his later portraits from the 1920s, a more serious temper is expressed: Madonna (1923–1924).