Biography
Latvian painter Arijs Skride was born on September 24, 1906, in the Madona municipality, Dzelzava parish, into a peasant family. However, he spent most of his childhood (1907–1919) in Russia, where his family was exiled following his father’s involvement in the events of the 1905 Revolution.[1] From an early age, drawing was his favorite activity. Upon returning to Latvia, he continued to develop his talent, creating charcoal drawings on various pieces of paper. His talent was noticed by Augusts Nore, the drawing teacher at the Cesvaine Gymnasium, with whose support Skride entered the Art Academy of Latvia in 1921, initially as a independent student.[2] In 1922, he joined the master class of renowned Latvian landscape painter Vilhelms Purvītis (1872–1945), who had evidently noticed his talent. By the time Skride first exhibited his works outside the Academy in 1928, he had already gained a solid reputation. He graduated in 1932, became a member of the artists’ association “Sadarbs,” and, in 1933, traveled to Paris to further his studies. In 1934, Skride worked as a scenic artist at the Latvian National Opera. From 1936 he was a teacher of drawing and art history at the Natālija Draudziņa Gymnasium in Riga, and in 1942 he began teaching at the Art Academy of Latvia.[3]
The artist passed away on 22 November 1987.
Artistic style
Arijs Skride is one of the most prominent followers of the Vilhelms Purvītis school of landscape painting, retaining the same principles of his teacher’s artistic interpretation of nature. He used mainly the oil technique, painting landscapes, views of Riga and small towns, as well as market and port scenes. A significant part of his work is dedicated to depicting the reconstruction of post-war life.[4] His painting style is characterized by a bold and impulsive interpretation of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist traditions, employing varied brushstrokes and leaving parts of the canvas unpainted to get the dynamism and vibrancy of the composition. Skride explored both urban and natural motifs, painting port views, tree foliage patterns against bright skies, cityscapes, and street and courtyard scenes. His works capture both dark and cloudy days with lighter clouds and sunny, vivid scenes.[5]
Skride remained faithful to a dynamic and expressive style during the Soviet period, especially in the second half of the 1940s, incorporating more figurative compositional elements. Genre elements appear more frequently in the landscapes; the staffage is brought closer to the foreground. He painted a lot of woodworkers and farmers – harvesting potatoes and ploughing. In his later years, he shifted his focus towards pure landscape painting.[6] [7]
Interesting Facts
Arijs Skride quickly became a well-known artist in society and was invited to participate in all major art exhibitions in Latvia, as well as Latvian art exhibitions abroad. His potential success was confirmed by the exhibitions of works by students of the Art Academy of Latvia, where the majority of Skride’s works were always purchased.[8]
During the German occupation of Latvia (1941–1945) Skride continued to paint and participated in two art exhibitions. After an exhibition in 1942, his works attracted the interest of German army officers. They went directly to Skride’s apartment on Vairoga Street in Riga and immediately bought all the paintings they saw. It was dangerous to refuse, so Skride even had to hide his works. During this time, the painter also signed a contract with a German art dealer to sell 100 paintings.[9]
In honor of the landscape painter, the Arijs Skride Award is presented each school term to students of Dzelzava School for their academic achievements and creative work.[10]
_____________________________
[1] Latvijas mākslas vēsture. – 5. sēj.: Klasiskā modernisma un tradicionālisma periods. 1915 – 1940 / Sast. E. Kļaviņš, aut. S. Pelše, A. Vanaga, V. Villerušs, K. Teivāne–Korpa, I. Martinsone, R. Rinka, M. Šuste. – Rīga: LMA Mākslas vēstures institūts; Mākslas vēstures pētījumu atbalsta fonds, 2016.–284. lpp.
[2] http://skridesfonds.lv/lv/Arijs-Skride (Vd. 07.03.2025.)
[3] Latvijas mākslas vēsture. – 5. sēj.: Klasiskā modernisma un tradicionālisma periods. 1915 – 1940 / Sast. E. Kļaviņš, aut. S. Pelše, A. Vanaga, V. Villerušs, K. Teivāne–Korpa, I. Martinsone, R. Rinka, M. Šuste. – Rīga: LMA Mākslas vēstures institūts; Mākslas vēstures pētījumu atbalsta fonds, 2016.–284. lpp.
[4] Tidomane G. Skride, Ārijs // Māksla un arhitektūra biogrāfijās, III / Atb. red. A. Vanaga. Rīga: A/S Preses nams, 2000.–57.lpp.
[5] Latvijas mākslas vēsture. – 5. sēj.: Klasiskā modernisma un tradicionālisma periods. 1915 – 1940 / Sast. E. Kļaviņš, aut. S. Pelše, A. Vanaga, V. Villerušs, K. Teivāne–Korpa, I. Martinsone, R. Rinka, M. Šuste. – Rīga: LMA Mākslas vēstures institūts; Mākslas vēstures pētījumu atbalsta fonds, 2016.–285. lpp.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Vasks, A. Arijs Skride. – Rīga: Neputns, 2007.–35.lpp.
[8] Ibid.–30.lpp.
[9] Ibid.– 34.–35.lpp.
[10] http://skridesfonds.lv/lv/Arijs-Skride (Vd. 07.03.2025.)
