Equestrian monuments in Estonia: How many are there really?

Art historian Raigo Kollom weighs in on the debate sparked by Flo Kasearu's new monument of Alma Ostra-Oinas, questioning how many true equestrian monuments Estonia actually has. The piece examines the criteria for what counts as an equestrian monument and whether the new work qualifies.

The recent airing of a segment on Estonian television programme 'Ringvaade' featuring Flo Kasearu's newly created monument of Alma Ostra-Oinas — described as Estonia's fourth equestrian monument — has reignited debate among art historians and the general public alike. Art researcher Raigo Kollom, who has spent years studying the history of equestrian monuments, argues that the true count may be far smaller.

Strict standards for equestrian art

According to Kollom, among all researchers who have studied equestrian monuments, no one in Estonia would identify more truly qualifying examples than the Laidoner monument in Viljandi. He also tentatively includes a miniature-scale piece sometimes called the 'Estonian Joan of Arc' — though with some hesitation due to its modest dimensions.

The question of what constitutes a genuine equestrian monument is more than academic. Traditionally, the genre refers to a full-scale or monumental depiction of a named historical figure on horseback, rendered in bronze or stone with a commemorative purpose. By that standard, Estonia's collection is quite limited.

Kasearu's work sparks new questions

Flo Kasearu's monument of Alma Ostra-Oinas — an actress and cultural figure — has now brought renewed public interest to these questions. Kollom notes, with a touch of irony, that Aino Ostra-Oinas may perhaps forgive the fact that viewers are now literally looking up at her from below, as is characteristic of elevated equestrian statues.

The debate reflects a broader conversation in Estonia about how public art memorialises women, and whether new works are expanding or complicating an established artistic tradition.