Biography

Karlis Melnbarzdis was born on August 2, 1902, in Jelgava, Latvia. He was the eldest kin in the family with 4 children – he had two brothers and a sister, who were born in the family of notary Janis Melnbarzdis and his wife Emma. In 1906 the family moved to Tukums, to the city filled with the painter's childhood memories
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After graduating from Tukums Gymnasium, Melnbarzdis received his education at the newly established Art Academy of Latvia. In 1931 he graduated from a landscape painting workshop led by Vilhelms Purvitis - professor and founder of landscape painting in Latvia. After almost forty years of work, Melnbarzdis had left about 2,500 oil paintings and studies.

In 1933 Janis, the son of Karlis Melnbarzdis and his wife Marija Abelte, was born. Like his father, he also dedicated his life to creative work - writing.

Melnbarzdis had participated in exhibitions since 1933, but the post-war period had been the most productive - he took part in many art exhibitions both in Latvia and abroad. Several of his paintings had been purchased by the largest museums of the Soviet Union - five of them are in the collection of The State Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow, Russia.

Karlis Melnbarzdis passed away on February 27, 1970. He was buried in Riga, Forest Cemetery, on the Artists’ hill.

Artistic description

Karlis Melnbarzdis was a soulful painter of Latvian scenery, who constantly maintained the connection with the themes of nature. The masterpieces bloom with national, northern landscape motifs - floodwaters, steep river banks with tree reflections in them, sunlit snowy landscapes with blue shadows, and early spring thaws. The breathtaking expansion of nature achieved with short brushstrokes extends into an infinite range of tones and flourishes in various moods. Melnbarzdis’ deeply felt awe for the simple beauty of Latvian nature is also reflected in the names of his paintings - “The Old Mill”, “Woods”, "Birch Grove” and "Rye-field”.

The constant of Melnbarzdis' art has been without contradictions and unexpected turns, but it definitely wasn’t monotonous.

By following the principles of early 20th-century landscape painting, Melnbarzdis has created epic panoramas and lyrical natural motifs, that consist of impressionistic brushstrokes and lively colors. The beauty of the bays of the river Gauja, harsh fishing villages, and the Latvian seashore, all testifying the artist's patriotic feelings and love for marines. He has participated in many exhibitions organized by the Soviet Latvian marine artists.

Interesting facts

Melnbardzis' desire for visual self-expression began at seven years old, and his father's punishment for the artist's mischiefs was to take away paint for some time.

Melnbarzdis’ interests and hobbies did not stop with art, as he also achieved success in a completely different field - motorsport. The original innocent passion and practical use changed into excitement for professional sports, where he had won several cups. Each of Melnbarzdis’ vehicles was given a special name - "Indian", "Ansitis" and “Black Peter”