Vabbe, Adolf Georgievich

Born Mar. 19 (31), 1892, in Tapa; died Apr. 20, 1961, in Tartu. Soviet painter and graphic artist. Honored Art Worker of the Estonian SSR (1946).

Vabbe studied in Munich at the studio of A. Ažbè (1911-13). He was a founding member of the “Pallas” group in Tartu (1918). Vabbe taught in Tartu at the Pallas Higher School of Art (1919-40), at the K. Mägi Higher School of Art (1940-41), and at the Art Institute (1944-50). From 1938 he held the rank of professor. Vabbe’s students included A. Bach-Liimand, A. Johani, and E. Kits. During the years 1953-56, Vabbe directed an experimental graphic workshop in Tallinn. He was influenced by impressionism and futurism (the paintings In the Café, 1918, private collection, Tartu; River Port, 1938, and Family With an Automobile, 1960—both in the Tartu Art Museum). Vabbe also made a notable contribution to the development of Estonian book graphics.