Paul Liivak

Despite his short life Paul Liivak was able to become marked in the Estonian art history as a graphic artist, book illustrator and Water-colour painter. Already as a 15-year-old boy Liivak entered Tallinn Artistic Vocational School and after disorders, caused by the World War I, he together with Aleksander Vardi and Kristjan Teder were among the first ones to enter through the doors of "Pallas". Since the second half of the 1920ies Liivak worked as a freelance artist, issuing folders of linocuts and wooden engravings. Liivak resided mainly in Tallinn, but starting from the beginning of the 1930ies he started to visit gradually more often South-Estonia. And even though he mainly spends his summers near Pühajärve, Liivak has a certain attachment towards Võrumaa. As a person, being born in the inland, the artist was always drawn to sights that are new for the eye. So the coastal views of the 1920ies were replaced in 1930ies with viewing of the landscape of South-Estonia. After illustrating of the "Võrumaa stories" Liivak enters the complete centre of the essence of the landscape, digging up places of significance. Vällamäe becomes poetry on his Water-colour painting, a simple hill becomes an alluring and mysterious place.