MELANCHOLIA IMAGINATIVA. Peculiarities of Characters in Aleksandra Beļcova’s Portrait Painting

The theme of melancholia has a long history in European art, evolving from an ancient notion of a psychological condition to a marker of creative genius. The exhibition explores the iconography of melancholic figures and its transformations over time, with a particular focus on the portraits of Aleksandra Beļcova. In her work, the traditional “thinker’s pose” acquires a deeply personal dimension shaped by biography and introspection, revealing a mood of quiet, luminous sadness. The exhibition also situates these works within the broader cultural context of the 20th century, where melancholia emerges as a reflection of the modern urban experience.

Artist: Aleksandra Beļcova

Curator: Nataļja Jevsejeva

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About museum

The Romans Suta and Aleksandra Beļcova Museum is dedicated to two outstanding representatives of classical modernism in Latvia’s art history. It is located in the artists’ memorial apartment at Elizabetes iela 57a – 26. The museum collection consists of some 4000 artworks by Suta and Beļcova. They include paintings, painted porcelain items, ink drawings, watercolours, sketches for pottery, costume and stage designs as well as memorial furniture, household items and archive materials – photographs, letters, awards, exhibition catalogues and other documents.

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Admission ticket to the exhibition according to the museum’s price list. For annual pass holders, participation in the event is free of charge.