The Polymath of Estonia
Uku Masing was an Estonian polymath who contributed extensively to theology, oriental studies, philosophy, poetry, folklore, and ethnology. A significant figure in Estonian religious philosophy, he was also a prolific writer and a gifted polyglot. By the end of his life, he was able to speak approximately 65 languages, with the ability to translate from 20 of them, including original Hebrew and various oriental languages. His intellectual pursuits were vast, ranging from the study of Semitic languages to the investigation of Nazi war crimes at the Klooga concentration camp.
Beyond his academic and literary contributions, Masing was recognized for his humanitarian actions during the Holocaust. He and his wife, Eha, helped the Jewish folklorist Isidor Levin evade capture by providing food, shelter, clothing, and forged documents. For these actions, Masing was honored as a Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem and the Israeli Supreme Court.
Literary and Academic Contributions
Masing's literary output included poetry, essays, and translations. He was a member of the influential group of Estonian poets known as Arbujad ("Soothsayers"). His notable written works include the novel Rapanui vabastamine ehk Kajakad jumalate kalmistul (Liberation of Rapa Nui, or Seagulls at the Cemetery of Gods), published posthumously in 1989, and the 1935 publication Promontories into the Gulf of Rains. As a researcher of fairy tales, he contributed to the international Encyclopedia of the Folktale.
His academic career included lecturing at the University of Tartu, where he taught theology and Semitic languages. His scientific works covered a wide array of subjects, such as:
Vraag en antwoord
Waar kan ik statistieken vinden over de werken van Uku Masing?
Statistieken over de werken van Uku Masing zijn te vinden op de Statistieken-pagina van de kunstenaar.
Hoe heeft de kunst van Uku Masing zich in de loop der tijd ontwikkeld?
De carrière van Uku Masing ontvouwt zich periode voor periode op de Loopbaanoverzicht pagina van de kunstenaar: een horizontale tijdlijn van de kunstwerken, gegroepeerd in hoofdstukken per carrièreperiode.
Hoe kan ik alle kunstwerken van Uku Masing bekijken?
Alle werken van Uku Masing op deze website zijn te bekijken op de Alle kunstwerken pagina van de kunstenaar.
Hoe vind ik werken van Uku Masing in een specifiek kleurenpalet?
De werken van Uku Masing kunnen op basis van kleurpalet worden bekeken op de Op kleurpalet pagina van de kunstenaar.
