Portrait (Painter Erkki Kosonen)

Otto Mäkilä's "Portrait (Painter Erkki Kosonen)" from 1922 offers an early glimpse into the artist's developing style, created when Mäkilä was just 18 years old. While the specific medium and dimensions are not available, it's worth noting that Mäkilä was active across various techniques, including drypoint, aquatint, woodcut, lithography, and even textiles, as seen in his diverse works like "Murder, plate two from Death and Resurrection" and "Nude Girl Under Trees." This portrait, likely a more intimate study given its subject, a fellow painter, stands in contrast to the often stark and emotionally charged themes of war and social commentary present in his later graphic works such as "Evening on the Wijtschaete Plain (November 1917), from War" and "Pimp and Whore." It provides a valuable insight into his formative years before he fully delved into the Expressionist and Symbolist explorations for which he became known.