Tamara Grigoryevna Yufa was a renowned graphic artist, book illustrator, and set designer. She was awarded the State Prize of the Karelian Autonomous Soviet Socialist Republic. She was born on March 2, 1937, in the village of Kolodeznaya in the Lipetsk Region. After graduating from the Leningrad Art and Pedagogical College in 1960, Yufa lived and worked in Karelia.

Tamara Yufa illustrated her first book in 1961. It was titled “Tales” and written by Pentti Lahti. According to the artist, she created the illustrations in just one week, using a pen. The book sold 15,000 copies and was one of the top 25 publications in the Russian SSR at the time.

The distinctive style of Tamara Yufa’s graphic works, reminiscent of airy lace, is recognized by all who live in Karelia. Her aesthetic principles were evident in everything she did, from her appearance to her dance moves. In her art, she expressed her vision of harmony in a unique way, true to her exceptional artistic sensibilities. Yufa’s artistic style, which blended elements of graphic design and painting, evolved over time and, today, cannot be confused with any other.

Yufa never attempted to create an exact replica of a historical dress, instead choosing to stylize her designs, incorporating individual elements into the image. She also followed this approach in her work as a costume designer for Karelian theater and dance companies.

The ordeal of the mistress of Pohyola — Louhi — is horrible. In the poem, she is portrayed as both an intelligent, welcoming and caring hostess concerned for her daughters’ well-being, as well as the matriarch of the family interested in its prosperity and ready to defend her land.

Tamara Yufa’s artwork “Louhi and Her Daughter” depicts two generations of women: the young maiden Pohya, striking with her haughty beauty, and the elderly Louhi with her heavy, piercing gaze. Through visual means, the artist conveys both the age gap and the remarkable similarity between mother and daughter.

Louhi, like any devoted mother, selects strong, capable, and intelligent suitors for her girls. Ilmarinen, the blacksmith, stands out among the suitors. After passing various tests, he manages to capture a huge pike — the mistress of the lakes.