The Formative Years and Education of Arnold Vihvelin
Born in Rääbise, Arnold Vihvelin began his artistic journey at the age of six, inspired by the example of his older cousin, a portrait painter. His early life was shaped by a family environment rich in literature, as his father, a forester, collected folk songs. After working as a draftsman in Tartu and studying drawing in the evenings, Vihvelin attended Kristjan Raud's studio from 1906 to 1909. His formal training progressed through the Imperial Society for the Encouragement of the Arts in Saint Petersburg, where he specialized in printmaking under Ivan Bilibin. He later studied at the Imperial Academy of Arts, working under Vasily Mate and subsequently studying in the landscape studio of Arkady Rylov until his graduation in 1918.
Artistic Career and Diverse Works
Vihvelin's artistic output was diverse, encompassing landscape paintings, salon portraits, and illustrations for the magazine Tuuslar. He was also known for creating caricatures for the satirical magazine Sädemed. In 1925, he contributed significant compositions to Saint Peter's Church in Tartu, specifically Ketsemani aed (The Garden of Gethsemane) and Colgata (Calvary). During the interwar period, his work often focused on themes related to the Estonian War of Independence. His professional life included serving as a drawing teacher in Rakvere and participating in the founding of the Petrograd art society Lennok. Following the postwar period, he withdrew from public artistic life.
