Exhibition “Alexander Normak. The Keeper of Old Narva’s Image”

The central piece of exhibition is the painting “In the Vicinity of the Old Narva Hay Market”.

The painting “In the Vicinity of the Old Narva Hay Market” is the most colorful of the three presented in this series of mini-exhibitions. Its impressionistic style and warm, rich palette beautifully convey the atmosphere of a sunny summer day.

Two distinct artistic manners can be clearly seen in Normak’s work. In his graphics he focused on details and shadows – this is evident in his numerous sketches of old Narva. In painting, however, he worked differently: he generalized forms, softened contours, and concentrated primarily on mood.

The painting depicts an inner courtyard in the area of the former hay market, which was located near the intersection of Vahe Street (Razdelnaya, now Heinatöri) and Pagari Street (Bulochnaya, no longer existing). In the interwar period, this corner of old Narva was especially popular among artists who lived here and often sketched urban scenes.

Normak chose a view that was depicted much less frequently, even though the area itself was well known to artists. Usually they portrayed the “front-facing” Narva: the beautiful façades of houses and churches, the city’s easily recognizable views. Here, however, the artist shows his beloved Narva from within – genuine and warm, just as the townspeople saw it.

About the artist

Alexander Normak, born on February 17, 1895 in Lüganuse, was a distinguished Estonian painter and graphic artist.

Having graduated from the St. Petersburg School of the Society for the Encouragement of the Arts (1911–1917), he returned to Narva in 1920 after serving in the army. He quickly found work in his field and began teaching drawing. Later, he taught in Tapa, Paide, Kehra, and Tallinn.

Normak took an active part in the cultural life of the city. He also created theatrical sets for the local theatre and even performed on stage himself. In 1929, together with Voldemar Peil and Artur Tuisk, he fulfilled a long-held dream by founding the Narva Art Society.

The artist’s work evolved from experiments with Cubism and Futurism to Realism and Impressionism. His main subjects were the streets, courtyards, churches, and portals of old Narva. His graphic works – created in pencil, charcoal, and ink – were characterized by meticulous detail and a romantic view of architecture.

Alexander Normak, who died in 1984, was one of those who shaped the cultural life of interwar Narva and inspired young artists. His drawings and graphics preserved the image of a city that no longer exists.

About the exhibition

The exhibition series invites us to remember pre-war Narva – a city once full of artistic life.
Three Narva artists – Voldemar Noormägi, Ardo Sivadi and Aleksander Normak – would have celebrated anniversaries in 2025. Their art reflects the fate of the city: prosperity, destruction, and memory.

Each pop-up exhibition focuses on one artist and one painting. The project was created in cooperation with Narva Estonian Gymnasium and the Narva College of the University of Tartu. Texts were written by student Ilya Olkhovetskiy together with Narva Museum. Exhibition is supported by Estonian Cultural Endowment.  

Free entry at the foyer of Narva College.