Provenance: private collection, London

Janis Rozentāls (1866–1916), born in Saldus, Latvia, began his artistic journey in Riga after moving there at 15. His talent led him to the Saint Petersburg Academy of Arts in 1888, where he gained acclaim for "After Church." Back in Latvia by 1899, he married Finnish singer Elli Forssell in 1903, influencing his interest in Finnish art.

Initially a realist, Rozentāls later embraced impressionism and symbolism. His wife, Elli, often featured as a Madonna in his works. Summers in Finland inspired bright, familial portraits. World War I forced the family to Finland in 1915, where Rozentāls continued painting until his death in 1916, leaving behind a legacy blending Latvian and Finnish artistic influences.