Viktor Isayevich Tauber was a graphic artist and book illustrator. He worked in the field of easel graphics, making drawings for the children’s literary and art magazine “Murzilka” and, naturally, illustrations for fairy tales by Charles Perrault, Hans Christian Anderson, and the Brothers Grimm. He also created picture books. In the last years of his life, Viktor Tauber worked on illustrations for the novel “The Master and Margarita”. Unfortunately, the edition with his illustrations was not released.

It is still uncertain what the Sampo actually is. It has been interpreted as a musical instrument, a talisman, and a merchant ship. Some view it as an image of all the lands of Karelia and Finland. What is known is that it possesses great powers, with which one can obtain bread, salt, and money. This is why the two rival countries — Kalevala and Pohyola — dispute over this “treasure”. The key feature of the Sampo in the epic poem “Kalevala” is that it is a mill which can be created, and which can serve as both a challenge in courtship and a ransom for Wainamoinen, who finds himself in foreign lands.

The stealing of the Sampo from Pohyola is the central plot of the “Kalevala”, and the main battle in the poem. Louhi, the sorceress and hostess of Pohyola, transforms into a giant bird and, with an army of soldiers on her wings, overtakes the thieves who are trying to take the Sampo away by sea. This fearsome bird catches up with the heroes and tries to grab the Sampo. But they stand strong. The cheerful Lemminkainen cleaves the witch with his sword and throws the men of Pohyola into the water. Wainamoinen then strikes the monster with a steering wheel made of oak and cuts off the bird’s claws.

In Viktor Tauber’s illustrations, we can see a stormy sea with three heroes in a boat struggling for the Sampo. The waves, in their frenzy, overwhelm the boat. The figures of Wainamoinen, Ilmarinen, and Lemminkainen are depicted in different angles and in motion. In the background, there is a majestic sail.

During the fierce battle, Louhi drops the Sampo and it falls into the sea. The wonderful mill sinks. Hence, the sea in the north becomes richer than the land. Some of the recovered pieces of the Sampo allow Wainamoinen to bless the earth, giving it the ability to produce fruit.