EST (ENG Below)

Eduard Wiiralt on 20. sajandi esimese poole silmapaistvaim Eesti graafik (kuigi ta harrastas ka maali ja skulptuuri). Wiiralti looming on harukordselt viljakas, meisterlik, teemaderohke. Ta katsetas erinevaid tehnikaid (linoollõige, puugravüür, ofort, vasegravüür, akvatinta, pehmelakk jne). Wiiralt kujutas suurlinnaelu ja sageli selle varjukülgi, kergemeelsust ning pahesid. Wiiralt kajastas oma loomingus mitmesuguseid inimlikke kogemusi, erinevaid tundeid ja meeleolusid erootikast ühiskonnakriitikani. Tema teoste tundeskaala ulatub eksistentsiaalsest kurbusest puhta elurõõmuni. Eduard Wiiralt tegi rohkesti raamatuillustratsioone, kuid tähtsaim on see, et ta pani aluse Eesti vabagraafikale.

ENG

Eduard Wiiralt (March 20, 1898 – January 8,1954) was a well-known Estonian graphic artist and is considered the most remarkable master of Estonian graphic art in the first half of the 20th century. Wiiralt’s work is unusually prolific, masterful and full of themes.  He experimented with different techniques (linocut, woodcut, etching, copper engraving, aquatint, soft lacquer, etc). Wiiralt’s work reflects various human experiences, feelings and moods spanning eroticism to social criticism.  The emotional scale of his art ranges from existential sadness to pure joy of life.  He often depicted big city life- both its frivolity and often also its dark side and vices.  Eduart Wiiralt was a prolific in creating book illustrations, but his largest contribution was establishing the foundation for Estonian graphic art.