Academic CentreREPRESENTATION OF FOREST ECOSYSTEMS IN LATVIAN LANDSCAPE PAINTINGS
Ilze Pauliņa, Zane Lībiete
Forests provide people with a number of ecosystem services, usually classified in three categories: provisioning, regulatory (supportive) and culture ecosystem services. Provisioning and regulatory ecosystem services are well researched, however, there is little information on the culture ecosystem services, especially on some of their subcategories. In this research paper we looked at the inspiration given by ecosystems for creative human activities and the representation of forest ecosystems in 20th century Latvian landscape paintings. The results provide some evidence that forest ecosystems are an important source of inspiration, often used by painters in their work frequently depicting the typical landscapes of the artists birth and work places. This is the first of such analyses in Latvia and forms the basis for future research including that of other creative outlets and by examining its economical aspect, for example, by researching the art market more closely.