The artist and his model, Portraits by Reidar Särestöniemi".

THE ARTIST AND THEIR MODELReidar Särestöniemi's Paintings of People4 June 2026 – 1 June 2027Model painting and life drawing represent the foundation of visual arts. Throughout the history of visual expression, the human body has been the most beautiful and important model for both the master artist and the apprentice. At first, it was studied in the form of plaster casts, and as skills grew, artists were allowed to examine the living model. The subtly beautiful tones of the skin, and the dialogue between light and shadow, posed—and still pose—enough of a challenge for any researcher.Before a new invention, the camera, arrived to take over the field, model painting had its own very important role in history. Emissaries transported portraits of individuals, mostly nobility of marriageable age, between courts, castles, and even countries. From the portrait, one could see what the object of interest looked like. A painting could even determine whether a marriage proposal was accepted or not.While studying at the Repin Institute in Leningrad, Reidar refused to submit to the local socialist realism. Instead, he demanded his own rights: his own studio and permission to invite anyone he wished to be his model. Surprisingly, this was granted. From his period of study at the Leningrad Academy of Arts between 1956 and 1959, a whole series of fascinating portraits has remained; both clothed and nude.However, the artist can most easily access themselves as a model. The model is always present, either as a mental image or a reflection. Reidar painted a number of interesting self-portraits. The earliest ones show us what the artist's features were like. The soulfulness of his expression grew over the years. The artist incarnated into animal figures. These figures were Reidar's way of protecting himself, making it safe to express things he otherwise could not. They speak of his strong connection to nature. He could see and make himself visible on the surface of a lichen-covered rock.The paintings depicting friends tell of a warm and trusting relationship between the artist and his model. The artist knew the subject, which creates a special depth in the painting. Not a single painting represents a superficial observation or a mechanical reproduction of sight. The model has been depicted politely and with respect. The portraits of female friends are highly elegant and sensual in their color palette. Reidar created several fine paintings of his friend, the writer Brita Polttila.The color scheme in Reidar's paintings from his early period is harmonious; later, in the 1970s, pure and unbroken colors rejoice on his palette.Portraits became increasingly rare in the artist's oeuvre. The paintings grew larger in size, bright, and dreamlike:they tell of one thing, but mean something else.Liisa TervahautaMuseum Director Emerita, The Särestöniemi Museum