Karl Pärsimägi: 'Estonian Matisse'

Wild at Heart

I remember the word 'Eurocentric' from art classes at school, and can now see what that means: I know nothing of artists from the Baltic States; African; Asian, or Australasia. I'm intrigued by the life and work of Karl Pärsimägi, who I have just discovered, known as the 'Estonian Matisse' (1902-1942). The influence of Fauvism is very evident. I wish he'd had the opportunity to continue his art practice; it would have been interesting to see how it would have developed.

It seems he had a strong sense of Justice even at an early age, awarded a medal for his participation in the Estonian War of Independence in 1919. He went on an art study trip in Germany in 1923 - strange, as this was the year it suffered hyperinflation.

Interior Views

           

In 1937, he moved to Paris. I was struggling to piece together his life from the tiny bits I uncovered until I discovered, just now, that he became a courier for the French Resistance, which led to his being arrested in Sept. 1941. He was then taken to Auschwitz, via Dracy Internment camp.

Painting of a church, and interior of an orthodox church:

He was not Jewish, nevertheless, he was executed on this day in 1942. Soviets painted out his offending medal of honour in his portraits; denying him official recognition because of that involvement; though allowed for his life-work to be celebrated with an exhibition at his centenary. So sad to have found his life was cut short so brutally, when he'd striven to protect justice and Freedom from the devastation tyranny has on ordinary people.

I found a moving music-soundscape, photo-montage tribute that seemed appropriate to add (with heavy heart) to this post: The Sound of Auschwitz Birkenau: