Alisa Ivanovna Poret was a Soviet artist, painter, graphic artist and book illustrator.

The first edition of the “Kalevala” in Petrozavodsk was published in 1940. Alisa Poret, a student of Pavel Filonov and Kuzma Petrov-Vodkin, created the illustrations for it. The drawings are made with a pen in two colors — black and green ink, applied to paper with small, frequent dots and strokes.

The style of Alisa Poret’s illustrations is characterized by her ability to draw easily and quickly, with a playful touch. However, this “playfulness” is grounded in a strict internal logic: the miniature headpieces and tailpieces are inspired by the folk art of the Northerners and ancient symbols found in embroidery and wood carving.

Alisa Poret’s illustration refers to the theme of the Great Oak Tree. As soon as Wainamoinen places an acorn in a pile of ash, the seed sprouts immediately. The oak tree grows so rapidly that it becomes a giant, blocking out the sky, causing problems for animals and people alike.

Wainamoinen seeks aid from natural forces and receives it,

Interestingly, a seemingly short hero comes to help battle the massive oak tree,

He is described as being about 17 centimeters long.

Copper was considered a magical metal and was believed to possess the ability to protect from illnesses and heal wounds.

He felled a large oak tree, which was later discovered to be magical.

The hero himself vanished without a trace, presumably returning to where he had come from.

These quotes from the “Kalevala” poem, compiled by Elias Lönnrot, were translated into English by John Martin Crawford.