Skip to main content
Want more images or videos?
Request additional images or videos from the seller
1 of 2

Adolfs Zardinsh
Love room. 1950, paper, mixed technique, 27.6x20.5 cm

1950

About the Item

Adolfs Zardins (1890 08 II Riga, Latvia – 1967 07 II Jurmala, Latvia), painter. Only in 1990 his relatives give his artistic heritage to publicity. “I am 58, and in five Years my colors and lines will be genuinely perfect…” “I don’t obey anything expert myself and my time…” Indeed, he strictly followed this rule, set up by himself; he lived and created as an outsider, obeying only himself and his time, more accurately – his inner time. And he died without being known and acknowledged by his contemporaries. Adolfs Zardinsh – an artist whose creative work has no analogues in Latvian art history of the XX century. This may seem strange, but may seem strange, but maybe it is only natural that we have only fragmentary information about his life. The beginnings are to be sought during the WWI when the family of his father, Peteris Zardins, moved from Vecpiebalga (Latvia) to Vitebsk (Russia). There is a reason to assume that the development of the artistic personality of young Adolfs Zardinsh was influenced by the bustling art life in Vitebsk. As we know, after October 1917, there lived and worked such artists as Marc Chagall, Kazimir Malevich, Mstislav Dobuzhinski, Robert Falk, Janis Tillbergs, a. o. So, it might not be a coincidence that art critics have discovered the influence of M. Chagall in A. Zardinsh’ art works. About 1920, after his return from Vitebsk to Latvia, A. Zardinsh settles down at his sister’s place not far from Riga, at the Riga Bay, and stays there until the and of his days, leading a solitary life and creating frescoes, histrionic compositions, landscapes, portraits. Participation at there exhibitions of the Independent Artist’s union in Riga (1931, 1933, 1935) doesn’t make him famous or acknowledged. His friendship with the Lithuanian painter Vladas Eidukiavicius doesn’t help Adolf Zardinsh to enter the established artistic circle. He still stays the stubborn hermit whose authorities in art are Rembrandt and Velasquez. He takes over some stylistic elements from his favorite art styles French fauvists, German expressionists, Russian neo – primitivisms. Nothing can divert him from his way - neither the fare with destroys many works, nor the deep poverty verging on hunger. If tacking money for good paints, the artist used the ones he has, if there is no paper or canvas, he paint on any background, frugally and carefully. If the composition does not satisfy him, he cuts the ready work in pieces and, using them, creates a new one. His themes stay the years – high society, casino and theatre, genre scenes and erotica. Year by year the art works by A. Zardinsh turn move refined, his compositions – more harmonious, the choice of colors – more perfect. Many of his works can easily compete with masterpieces seen at famous museums. He drew and painted since childhood, because he was born in a very intelligent family, where education was respected. His father dead at artist’s childhood and mother with 6 children moved to Vitebsk (1910 – 1917). In 1920, Zardins with his family returned to Riga. He attended the Studio of Independent Artists and took part at all exhibitions, which were organised by this studio (1931, 1933, 1935). During these years, he painted a lot and draw with aquarelle and pastel small pictures and wrote idiomatic “diary”. After the 2nd World War he lived in cold and hunger, without decent materials for work. He is an individualist who lived in his own reality. His works are full of classic themes (history, mythology, religion and erotics) but interpretation is paradoxical, associative, allegoric and also subjective. Zardins in his works created so-called “individual mythology”.
  • Creator:
    Adolfs Zardinsh (1890 - 1967, Latvian)
  • Creation Year:
    1950
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 10.87 in (27.6 cm)Width: 8.08 in (20.5 cm)
  • Medium:
  • Movement & Style:
  • Period:
  • Framing:
    Framing Options Available
  • Condition:
  • Gallery Location:
    Riga, LV
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU1437214868832

More From This Seller

View All
City 9. 1964, monotype, 44.5x64.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
City 9. 1964, monotype, 44.5x64.4cm Soikans Nikolay, pseudonym Niklo de Martell (till 1953.) 1926. 9 IX Ludza – 1980. 21 II Lester, Great Britain – graphic artist. He was born a...
Category

1960s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Monotype

City 7. 1964, paper, monotype, 44x63 cm
Located in Riga, LV
City 7. 1964, paper, monotype, 44x63 cm Soikans Nikolay, pseudonym Niklo de Martell (till 1953.) 1926. 9 IX Ludza – 1980. 21 II Lester, Great Britain – graphic artist. He was born a...
Category

1960s Abstract Abstract Prints

Materials

Paper, Monotype

City 13. 1966, paper, monotype, varnish, 47x77 cm
Located in Riga, LV
City 13. 1966, paper, monotype, varnish, 47x77 cm Soikans Nikolay, pseudonym Niklo de Martell (till 1953.) 1926. 9 IX Ludza – 1980. 21 II Lester, Great Britain – graphic artist. ...
Category

1960s Abstract Abstract Paintings

Materials

Paper, Monotype, Varnish

Intimate views. 1949, paper, mixed technique, 13.5x12.7 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Adolfs Zardins (1890 08 II Riga, Latvia – 1967 07 II Jurmala, Latvia), painter. Only in 1990 his relatives give his artistic heritage to publicity. “I am 58, and in five Years my c...
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper

Sinner Magdalene inside interior. 1947, paper, mixed technique, 19.5x17.5 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Adolfs Zardins (1890 08 II Riga, Latvia – 1967 07 II Jurmala, Latvia), painter. Only in 1990 his relatives give his artistic heritage to publicity. “I am 58, and in five Years my c...
Category

1940s Abstract Interior Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper

Pub-crawler. 1942, mixed media on paper, 30x23.3 cm
Located in Riga, LV
Adolfs Zardins (1890 08 II Riga, Latvia – 1967 07 II Jurmala, Latvia), painter. Only in 1990 his relatives give his artistic heritage to publicity. “I am 58, and in five Years my c...
Category

1940s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

You May Also Like

Untitled No. 15 (Abstract Black & Grey Charcoal Drawing with Mat & Black Frame)
By Ralph Stout
Located in Hudson, NY
Abstract black and grey charcoal drawing on thick, high quality Arches paper Vertical drawing, 25 x 20 inch image on 30.5 x 22.5 inch Arches paper 35 x 28.5 inches in black frame wi...
Category

Early 2000s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Charcoal

Shell 1 (Abstract Black and White Mixed Media Grid Collage with Graphic Shell)
By David Dew Bruner
Located in Hudson, NY
Graphic Abstract mixed media collage of black and white shells with pops of peach, yellow, and marbled paper "Shell 1", by David Dew Bruner, 2020 Mixed Media on paper in a white pain...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Paper, Mixed Media

"This Place is a Dream (Nightshade)" - botanical - cyanotype - flowers - moody
By Caroline Bullock
Located in Atlanta, GA
This piece is an abstract botanical work on paper featuring hues of dark blue, grey and tan. It is framed in a simple white box frame behind UV Plexiglas. The unframed work measures ...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

"This Place is a Dream (Jungle)" - botanical - cyanotype - green - plants
By Caroline Bullock
Located in Atlanta, GA
This piece is an abstract botanical work on paper featuring hues of green. It is framed in a simple white box frame behind UV Plexiglas. The unframed work measures 60 by 88 inches. ...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Glitter, Acrylic, Archival Paper

"This Place is a Dream (Haystack)" - botanical - cyanotype - flowers - grasses
By Caroline Bullock
Located in Atlanta, GA
This piece is an abstract botanical work on paper featuring hues of yellow and light green. It is framed in a simple white box frame behind UV Plexiglas. The unframed work measures 4...
Category

2010s Abstract Abstract Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Acrylic, Archival Paper

Untitled Floral Still Life
Located in Wilton Manors, FL
Beautiful floral still life by American artist Jane Piper (1916-1991) . Untitled. 1980. Pastel, oil crayon and pencil on tracing paper. Image measuring 9 x 12 inches in original ...
Category

1980s Abstract Still-life Drawings and Watercolors

Materials

Parchment Paper, Crayon, Pastel, Pencil

Recently Viewed

View All