Cement Factory

1988, oil on canvas, 90x90 cm (with frame 92,5x92,5x3,5 cm) /// Valdis Bušs (1924–2014) is one of the most prominent and expressive Latvian landscape painters, celebrated for his rich use of colour and distinctive, dynamic approach. The work of art created in the late 1980s in which the artist has digressed from his usual small-town and nature themes and turned to depiction of urban and robust subject-matter. The main motif of the painting is a cement factory. Even the title is "Cement Factory" the building is very similar and reminds the paper fabric in Sloka, Jurmala. The shapes are created with dynamic, elongated, pastose brushstrokes, thus giving a texture and a certain overall character. The usual colour contrast is achieved with wide white areas in the representation of the environment, as opposite to the representation of the sky. The heavy atmosphere of the cement factory is given by the intensive use of brown colour. The particular painting is reproduced in Valdis Bušs 24 pcs. Set of Postcards issued in the in the second half of the 1980s. /// The artist's signature and date are on the lower left side of the painting.