Rafael Wardi - Study of a Model

Rafael Wardi (b. 1928, Helsinki – d. 2021, Helsinki) is distinguished in his oeuvre by one color above all others: yellow. For Wardi, yellow signified light, closeness, joy, but also sorrow - the full spectrum of life. Counted among Finland’s most beloved artists, his richly colored works radiate warmth and light. His paintings draw their subjects from people close to him, surrounding landscapes, and observations of everyday environments. Wardi often painted his spouse, and female figures were a recurring motif throughout his works of the 1960s and 1970s. Alongside these figures, his paintings frequently emphasize domestic settings with elements such as wicker chairs and plants.