Ieva Švarca from the UNESCO Latvian National committee said that the anniversary, which will be celebrated in March 2016, was chosen due to the painter's contribution to the development of Latvian art and due to his role in modernizing art processes in the Baltics.
Next year in Latvia a huge program dedicated to the classic painter's 150th anniversary will be offered by museums and book publishers alike.
Since 1956, UNESCO participates in the commemorations of historic events and in the anniversaries of eminent personalities celebrated by Member States and Associate Members, in order to give them worldwide significance.
Some twelve works of the acclaimed painter are available at the Google Cultural Institute.