Biography
Born on September 13, 1889, in Cēsis district, Upciems. Reinholds Kasparson’s father was a craftsman – he created wood spinners.[1] Reinholds himself was a crafty man and that may have been inherited from his father.
At the age of 14 he created his first violin, and around 1909 moved to Riga to study how to play violin. Already at that time artist felt that his vocation is not violin playing, but painting. He started his art studies in 1914 with Jūlijs Madernieks, later he studied with J. R. Tillbergs. In 1921 he entered the Art Academy of Latvia, Figural Painting Workshop, and in 1928 he graduated with a diploma work “Winter Works in a Country House” supervised by J. R. Tillbergs.[2]
The artist has worked in A. Krauze’s surveying office as a draftsman and independently as a surveyor. He was then mobilized into the First World War.[3] From 1926 to 1940, Kasparsons was an illustrator of the magazine “Atpūta”, and also worked in the satirical magazine “Svari” and “Līdums”. He was called the artist of Benjamin’s house. After the Second World War, he worked at the Art Complex, as well as a drawing teacher.[4]
He has participated in exhibitions since 1920, and since 1928 he took part in the exhibitions of the Latvian Artists’ Association. Moreover, Kasparsons was one of the founders of the Latvian Artists’ Association. He was a member of the Latvian Artists’ Union since 1945.[5]
The artist and his wife Olivija have a son Ģirts Kasparsons, who is a biologist and radio journalist.[6]
The artist died in 1966 in Riga, and is buried in Meža Cemetery.[7]
Artistic Description
The artist was both a painter and a graphic artist. He has painted landscapes and portraits in the manner of realism, as well as worked in the field of applied graphics, made sketches for flags, diplomas, emblems.[8]
The artist was the main illustrator of the Benjamin's magazine “Atpūta”. The originals of “Atpūta” drawings – small watercolors, ink, pencil works, are collected by many art collectors today.[9]
The works of the pre-war period are characterized by the delicate and idyllic mood.[10] Throughout the ages, the artist has been a realist, painting landscapes, portraits, genre paintings. The artist has worked in various techniques, including watercolor and oil.
Interesting Facts
Artist had Amati’s violin in his collection. He has said: “Violins are now made as standardized as ladies’ socks. But every violin needs to have a heart put inside.”[11]
Reinholds Kasparsons, together with J. R. Tillbergs, prepared a sensational exhibition called “bumbisms” (trans. “ballism”) in October 1920, as if creating a new movement of modern art with a ball shape at the heart of all constructive formations. The aim of the exhibition was to caricature modernists. The works for this exhibition were prepared in a few nights.[12]
Kasparsons collected stamps and antiques – Chinese porcelain dishes, paintings and others. Not only did art and violins fascinate the artist, but also, he was an avid fisherman and a good chess player.[13]
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[1] Māksla un Arhitektūra biogrāfijās I, Rīga: Latvijas Enciklopēdija, 1995.–14.–15. lpp.
[2] “Galerijas stāsti: Vijoļmeistars un mākslinieks Reinholds Kasparsons”, Ir Liepāja, 09.05.2020. Available:
https://irliepaja.lv/kultura/galerijas-stasti-vijolmeistars-un-makslinieks-rein/, (viewed 18.10.2021.)
[3] Māksla un Arhitektūra biogrāfijās I, Rīga: Latvijas Enciklopēdija, 1995.–14.–15. lpp.
[4] “Galerijas stāsti: Vijoļmeistars un mākslinieks Reinholds Kasparsons”, Ir Liepāja, 09.05.2020. Available:
https://irliepaja.lv/kultura/galerijas-stasti-vijolmeistars-un-makslinieks-rein/, (viewed 18.10.2021.)
[5] Māksla un Arhitektūra biogrāfijās I, Rīga: Latvijas Enciklopēdija, 1995.–14.–15. lpp.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Ibid.
[9] Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās II, Rīga, 1996, 14.lpp
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Ibid.
