"As an artist Purvītis is the greatest Latvian and one of the most visible 20th century landscape apainters in the world. Purvītis was the first to combine Russian lyrical intimacy with the sharp perception of French realism and the innovations in colouring of impressionism. Purvītis created a bridge between the French traditions of depiction and northern expressiveness. This original combination was also the first and true foundation of Latvian national painting." (Uga Skulme, painter, 1932)