Enno Lehis: Life, Work, and “Lilled” (1962)

Enno Lehis (1912-2011) was a renowned watercolor artist born in Loksa, Harjumaa. He studied trumpet at the Tallinn Conservatory from 1930-1934 and later pursued painting at ERKI under the guidance of Johannes Greenberg and Lepo Mikko from 1944-1951. Lehis held his first exhibition in 1957 and his caricatures were published in the PIKKER magazine in 1957-1958. He was a member of the Estonian Artists’ Union since 1959 and participated in various exhibitions in Tallinn, Moscow, and Riga. Lehis held seven solo exhibitions and worked as a freelancer. His main body of work consists of landscape paintings, with a particular focus on the sea and autumn nature. He also practiced composition and portraiture, using soft melting tones achieved by allowing colors to blend while wet. The artwork “Lilled” (1962) is a watercolor on paper, measuring 36.7 x 28 cm, signed ‘E. Lehis’ at the bottom right and ‘Lehis, Enno Lilled akvarell 1962’ on the back.