Reidar Särestöniemi (Finland 1925‑1981)

Landscape with reindeer

To be sold at our Important Sale: Modern & Contemporary Art + Design 13 – 15 May 2025

Lot 651 Reidar Särestöniemi (Finland 1925‑1981). Landscape with reindeer. Signed and dated Reidar Särestöniemi 67 lower center. Oil and tempera on canvas, 119.5 x 120 cm.

Estimate

500.000 – 700.000 SEK
€ 45.000 – 64.000

The life and work of Finnish artist Reidar Särestöniemi is a remarkable journey, revealing the story of one of the most fascinating Lappish artists of his time. The present work is a testament to Särestöniemi’s joyful character and brilliant artistic talent. It has recently emerged from a private Swedish collection and is now making its auction debut.

Reidar Särestöniemi was born in the village of Kaukonen, Kittilä, Finland, as the youngest of seven children in the Kaukonen family. His parents, Alma and Matti, later changed the family name to Särestöniemi, after their home, The Old Särestö. The family was self-sufficient, earning their living through fishing, farming, hunting, and keeping cattle. Reidar’s grandfather, Heikki Kaukonen, had purchased the farm in the late 19th century. The farm later served not only as a residence for the family, but also as Reidar’s studio from 1960 to 1965. To allow more natural light for his painting, he enlarged the windows in the living room and covered the walls with white paneling. Later, he moved to a studio by the Ounasjoki River, which unfortunately burned down in a fire in 1977. A year later, a new studio and home were built, where Reidar lived for only two and a half years before he tragically passed away from a heart attack in 1981. The farm and studio are now part of the Särestöniemi Museum, which was founded in 1985.

From an early age, Reidar decided he wanted to become an artist. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Helsinki from 1947 to 1952 and continued his studies at the Ilya Repin Institute in Leningrad from 1956 to 1959. This was the only time Reidar lived abroad; he spent the rest of his life in Särestö. His first solo exhibition was held in 1959 in Helsinki, just after he returned from his studies in Leningrad. A significant aspect of Reidar Särestöniemi’s oeuvre is his depictions of the Lappish nature and animals. The local people of Lapland, with their rich culture and heritage, inspired him deeply, but his art was also influenced by the great artists of modernism, Russian art, and prehistoric cave paintings. As the years passed, he made Lapland’s stunning landscape his favorite subject, one he would return to repeatedly. At the time, it was unusual to encounter such colourful art in Finland, which often led to criticism. However, Reidar Särestöniemi continued to explore the richness of pigments and colours on his canvases. Today, he is widely celebrated for his vibrant works that balance between the figurative and complete abstraction. The present work is a stunning example of Särestöniemi’s masterful use of colour. Ranging from the brightest pink, crisp white, and energetic blue to warm tones of yellow and orange, it brings the Lappish landscape to life under the moonlight. A herd of reindeer runs across the field, bathed in the soft glow of the moon. The animals in Särestöniemi’s paintings often symbolize the artist himself, with reindeer being a particularly recurring theme in his work. In an interview 1970, the artist shared how he viewed his art as a form of personal expression and communication: “My paintings are coded messages, like signals sent into space to those on the same wavelength.”

Reidar Särestöniemi stands as a key figure in Finnish expressionism, blending vibrant colour with powerful symbolism to capture the essence of the Lappish landscape and its people. His work transcends mere representation, offering a deeply personal reflection of his connection to nature and his cultural roots. Through his bold, dynamic brushstrokes and vivid palette, Särestöniemi pushed the boundaries of Finnish art, creating pieces that resonate with emotional depth and raw energy. Today, he is celebrated not only for his artistic talent but also for his role in shaping the expressionist movement in Finland, leaving a legacy that continues to inspire and challenge contemporary artists.  ■

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