Tapani Raittila - Satamakuva, Vesiväri ja tussi paperille 1989. Yksityiskokoelma

HELSINKI, FINLAND.- Kunsthalle Helsinki presents Tapani Raittila, on view through March 30, 2008. The artist Tapani Raittila (b. 1921) is one of the greatest influences in Finnish modernism. The exhibition in the Kunsthalle presents work by Raittila in thematic wholes that cover his entire career of over 60 years. The pictures include fine early portraits and landscapes, keenly observed laconic drawings and commissioned portraits of writers, presidents and other luminaries. Apart from paintings, the show includes a great number of drawings and watercolours. Many rarely seen works have also been given on loan from private collections.

Raittila's output is characterised by certain recurring key subjects, such as self-portraits and the sea view visible from the window of his studio in Katajanokka, Helsinki. Raittila is often inspired to paint intimate, commonplace views of children or women of the family at their ordinary activities. Along with such works, Raittila has also extensively painted classical motifs, from still lifes to bathers. He is best known as a portraitist with a natural talent for expressing the character of his subject in a restrained way. Raittila is also a skilful draughtsman whose expressive portraits are based on a style that emphasises outlines.

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