Kārlis Padegs

Kārlis Padegs was a Latvian artist born on October 8, 1911, in Riga, Russian Empire. He studied under Latvian painter Vilhelms Purvītis at the Latvia Art Academy and is known for his expressionist art. Padegs’ best-known work is “Madonna with Machine Gun,” which is part of the Latvian National Museum of Art in Riga. He passed away in Riga on April 19, 1940, from tuberculosis at the age of 28.

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Despite his young age, Padegs exhibited a remarkable talent and independence in his art, often depicting unpleasant and ugly traits of life, which contrasted with the contemporary tendency towards beauty in Latvian art. Kārlis Padegs died from tuberculosis at the age of 28 years old.

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I must often listen to reproaches- why do you draw such disgusting pictures when there is so much beauty in the world?- But there are also many abominable things and somebody must draw them too, I answer. I want to show the seamy side of life which we do not like to see in order not to spoil our feeling of comfort or our good appetite.