Eduard Wiiralt
Encyclopedia
Eduard Wiiralt was an Estonian
artist.
Eduard Wiiralt was born near St. Petersburg as the son of Estonian parents who worked on a Russia
n country estate
. In 1909 the family moved to Estonia
and lived in Tallinn during World War I
, where the young artist was educated at the Tallinn Arts and Crafts school.
After finishing school in 1919, he continued his studies at the Pallas art school in Tartu
under Anton Starkopf. His first woodcut
s and linocut
s date back to 1916. He made his first etchings in 1917. During 1922–1923 Wiiralt attended the Dresden Academy of Art in Germany
, under professor Selmar Werner. Wiiralt returned to Tartu in the autumn of 1923. During this period he concentrated mostly on book
illustrations.
He lived in Paris
from 1925 to 1939. After that he spent some years in Estonia, but moved permanently to France
in 1946. He died there at the age of 55 and was buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery
.
In Paris he created his best-known works: "Hell" (1930–1932), "Cabaret" (1931), "The Preacher" (1932), "Heads of Negroes" (1933), and "Claude" (1936).
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
artist.
Eduard Wiiralt was born near St. Petersburg as the son of Estonian parents who worked on a Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n country estate
Estate (house)
An estate comprises the houses and outbuildings and supporting farmland and woods that surround the gardens and grounds of a very large property, such as a country house or mansion. It is the modern term for a manor, but lacks the latter's now abolished jurisdictional authority...
. In 1909 the family moved to Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
and lived in Tallinn during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, where the young artist was educated at the Tallinn Arts and Crafts school.
After finishing school in 1919, he continued his studies at the Pallas art school in Tartu
Tartu
Tartu is the second largest city of Estonia. In contrast to Estonia's political and financial capital Tallinn, Tartu is often considered the intellectual and cultural hub, especially since it is home to Estonia's oldest and most renowned university. Situated 186 km southeast of Tallinn, the...
under Anton Starkopf. His first woodcut
Woodcut
Woodcut—occasionally known as xylography—is a relief printing artistic technique in printmaking in which an image is carved into the surface of a block of wood, with the printing parts remaining level with the surface while the non-printing parts are removed, typically with gouges...
s and linocut
Linocut
Linocut is a printmaking technique, a variant of woodcut in which a sheet of linoleum is used for the relief surface. A design is cut into the linoleum surface with a sharp knife, V-shaped chisel or gouge, with the raised areas representing a reversal of the parts to show printed...
s date back to 1916. He made his first etchings in 1917. During 1922–1923 Wiiralt attended the Dresden Academy of Art in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, under professor Selmar Werner. Wiiralt returned to Tartu in the autumn of 1923. During this period he concentrated mostly on book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
illustrations.
He lived in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
from 1925 to 1939. After that he spent some years in Estonia, but moved permanently to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in 1946. He died there at the age of 55 and was buried at the Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery
Père Lachaise Cemetery is the largest cemetery in the city of Paris, France , though there are larger cemeteries in the city's suburbs.Père Lachaise is in the 20th arrondissement, and is reputed to be the world's most-visited cemetery, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors annually to the...
.
In Paris he created his best-known works: "Hell" (1930–1932), "Cabaret" (1931), "The Preacher" (1932), "Heads of Negroes" (1933), and "Claude" (1936).