Raoul Kernumees

Raoul Kernumees (until 1936 Raoul Kirnmann; October 25, 1905 – June 25, 1990) was an Estonian printmaker and painter.

Early life and education Kernumees was born in Udeva, the son of Juhan Kernumees (né Kirnmann, 1862–?) and Anna Maria Kirnmann (née Kontrakt, 1877–1918). He was the youngest child in a family of five children. He started his schooling at the Rakvere Educational Society School, and his next-door neighbor was the future artist Hando Mugasto.

In 1917, the family moved to Tallinn. In 1918, he started studying at Tallinn City High School on (Russian Street). His drawing teacher there noticed Kernumees's artistic talent and advised him to continue his studies at the State Industrial Art School. Kernumees studied there from 1921 to 1923. In 1925, Kernumees, together with Erich Leps, Kaarel Liimand, and Andrus Johani, went to study at the Pallas Art School in Tartu. Kernumees also continued to participate in exhibitions in Estonia under Soviet rule.

Works Kernumees attracted attention as an especially virtuosic and detailed draftsman, and a master of figural compositions. He mainly portrayed villagers, whose monotonous everyday life was enhanced by a bottle of vodka and a song accompanied by an accordion. Nationalism also characterizes Kernumees's fantastic grotesque drawings; and their son was the musician Koit Kernumees (1947–2011). The artist Valdur Ohakas was Kernumees's nephew.