If Latvia had to choose one person who had the most lasting effect on the nation’s art, the smart money would be on Janis Rozentāls (1866 - 1916) who influenced generations of Latvian artists. He brought a professionalism to Latvian painting that, although common to Western artists, hadn’t yet been seen on this stretch of the Baltic Sea. A committed patriot in an era when Latvia was still a part of the Russian Empire, he made a conscious effort to paint scenes of daily Latvian life and local landscapes, but also contributed to the graphic art and design of Latvia at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. The prolific artist also published articles about art and became one of the first Latvian art critics. His works span all of the popular genres of his time from realism and impressionism to art nouveau and national romanticism. Images by Janis Rozentāls courtesy of the LNMM