Venice

Konrad Mägi was an Estonian painter, one of the first modernist painters in Estonia and the Nordic countries, known for his visionary landscapes. He worked for only 16 years, yet his oeuvre is estimated at around 400 paintings. Mägi worked in different parts of Europe: Denmark, Norway, France, the island of Saaremaa, southern Estonia, and Italy. At the end of June 1922, he arrived in Venice, most likely by train from Bologna, as suggested by notes in his sketchbook listing both daytime and overnight train departures. He probably stayed at the Hotel Cavalletto, just behind St Mark’s Square. Although his visit lasted little more than a month, it was very productive: Mägi made numerous sketches that later served as the basis for at least 11 paintings.

Whether any of these works were completed on site remains uncertain. A postcard written only weeks before his departure reveals his own frustration: “Unfortunately, I have not completed a single thing.” Much of his activity was concentrated around St Mark’s Square and its surrounding streets, which provided a rich visual environment for his studies.

The painting is thought to depict the Ponte Widmann, a bridge in north-eastern Venice named after the German writer Joseph Victor Widmann, who had died just over a decade before Mägi’s arrival. 

P.S. Mägi captured Venice in sketches that felt like postcards from the city itself. Which view would you choose to send, a quiet bridge, a bustling square, or a hidden corner? Explore postcard sets in the DailyArt Shop and share a piece of art with someone you love.

P.P.S. Discover how Venice inspired artists throughout centuries!