Eesti kunsti oksjonid

Woodcut on paper. 1938.
Signature: P. Liivak puugrav. / Suvel

Wood engraving was one of Paul Liivak’s (1900-1942) favorite techniques. The print before us stylistically represents art deco mixed with late Art Nouveau. In a fantastic, fairytale-like landscape, Liivak places an elongated woman in a mannerist manner, surrounded by plants with enormous flowers and powerful insects.

Is this Thumbelina? From the bosom of the vegetation, a view opens up to a body of water, where on the left we notice a relatively realistic boat party in dark tones, balanced on the right by a tall, light-colored bather figure. An exceptionally powerful work both stylistically and in its narrative.

Text: Harry Liivrand