Enno Lehis: A Master of Watercolor Landscapes

Enno Lehis (1912-2011) was a renowned Estonian watercolor artist, born in Loksa, Harju County. He studied trumpet at the Tallinn Conservatory from 1930 to 1934 and later pursued painting at the Estonian State Art Institute under the guidance of Johannes Greenberg and Lepo Mikko from 1944 to 1951. Lehis held his first exhibition in 1958 and his caricatures were published in the magazine PIKKER during 1957-1958. He was a member of the Estonian Artists’ Union since 1959 and participated in various exhibitions in Tallinn, Moscow, and Riga. He held a total of seven solo exhibitions. Lehis worked as a freelancer and his main body of work consists of landscape paintings, with a particular focus on the sea and autumn nature. He also practiced composition and portraiture. His unique style involved the use of soft melting tones, achieved by allowing the colors to blend while wet. The artwork measures 35 x 50 cm and is signed ‘E. Lehis’ at the bottom right. On the reverse, at the top right, it is marked ‘Lehis, Enno Flowers watercolor 1962’.