Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Oil on masonite. 1989.
Signature: PEETER ALLIK 1966 “VILJANDI PAADIMEES“ 1989

The painting “The boatman of Viljandi” which belongs to the early creative period of Peeter Allik (1966-2019), demonstrates the painter as a representative of an extremely grotesque manner of expression, as if the master of German socially critical expressionism, Georg Grosz had found a student in Estonia! But that is exactly how Allik entered the Estonian art world – as a rebel.

The beautiful national-romantic legend of the boatman of Lake Viljandi and his charming young lady, in Allik’s interpretation, is a sarcastic mirror image of a popular folk tale, which is not without its amusing aspect. Artist Mall Nukke highlights another important detail: “Although it should be Lake Viljandi, Tall Hermann with its blue-black-white flag is still visible in the distance. The couple has probably gotten lost in the Bay of Tallinn with their boat called Viljandi. Central Estonia has come to visit the capital.”

Art historian Harry Liivrand continues: “It is somehow significant that the artist is presenting this in an era during which all the moral, social and aesthetic values that had previously been valid in art and were associated with good taste were questioned. A great mood lifter!”

The painting is reproduced in the hardcover book accompanying the exhibition “Peeter Allik. Cultivated Schizophrenia” held at the Tartu Art Museum in 2017, on page 56.

Text: Harry Liivrand