Author: Žmuidzinavičius Antanas, 1876 - 1966
Created: 1910.
Material / technique: oil on canvas.
Dimensions: 97.3x128.5 cm.
Signature: A. Žmuidzinavičius / 1910 (at the bottom right).
Part Two of the exhibition offers viewers a unique encounter. One of the most famous landscape paintings, The Village of Noblemen of Dzūkija Ethnographic Area II (1910), by Antanas Žmuidzinavičius will be exhibited for the first time at his Memorial Museum. For many years the history of this painting was unknown. The painting recorded as No. 133 in the register of Žmuidzinavičius’ works was exhibited in the Fourth Exhibition of Lithuanian Art. When this exhibition was moved to Riga, the painting was sold to the writer, Pranas Mašiotas. Celebrating his 60th birthday and 35th anniversary of his career, the artist summed up his work: ‘I consider my most prominent works to be as follows: Consonance (at Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA. USA, and its replica – at V.D. museum), Morning Song (Sisters of St. Casimir, Chicago, Ill.), Portrait of my Wife, Injured Commander of Riflemen, Samogitian Cemetery, The Village of Noblemen of Dzūkija Ethnographic Area, etc.’ The story of the latter took a new turn in 2013, when at Vilnius Auction XXVIII, it was the most expensive piece of art sold in the Lithuanian art market. The unique history of the painting is back on the Lithuanian cultural map. This is a rare and a unique opportunity to see Kurciniškės Village in the authentic environment of the early twentieth century. Looking at the painting, the word ‘noblemen’ in the title of the painting sounds ironic. The painting depicts thatched roof cottages on a hill, against a light reddish sky. The important focus of the painting is an ornate cross and a lonely pine tree. It is a painfully familiar image of a modest village in Dzūkija ethnographic area. It is delicate, true, and unadorned. Looking at the painting one is trying not to disturb the idyllic peace and quiet emanating from it.
Reference: Description of the "Meetings" exhibition. - M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas.
Exhibitions: Exhibition of the dr. J. Gumbis art collection “Meetings”, 2015 July 3 – September 6, M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of art, Kaunas; Lithuanian Art Review Exhibition, Kaunas, 1920 (as property of Pranas Mašiotas); Lithuanian Art Exhibition, Riga, 1910 (where it was purchased by the writer Pranas Mašiotas);"The Break of Dawn. Lithuanian Visual Arts Prior to 1918", 10 May 2018 – 31 May 2019, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas; „Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (1876–1966) Retrospective”, 2021 June 11 – September 26, M. K.Čiurlionis National Museum of art, Kaunas; since 2015 displayed in the permanent exhibition, National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, Kaunas.
Published: "Antanas Žmuidzinavičius". Kaunas: National M. K. Čiurlionis Art Museum, Kaunas (compiled by Jurgita Rimkutė), 2016, P. 60; "N WIND". Monthly magazine about culture and creative business in Northern Europe, 2015, Nr. 4, P. 14-15; Catalogue of the XXVIII Vilnius Auction. Meno rinkos agentūra, 24 May 2013, Kat. Nr. 1, P. 4; "Portfolio of A. Žmuidzinavičius' reproductions". Vilnius: Vaga, 1977, Nr. 2.; "A. Žmuidzinavičius. Palette and Life." Vilnius: Valstybinė grožinės literatūros leidykla, 1961, P. 65; "Antanas Žmuidzinavičius TSRS folk artist". Vilnius, 1957; "Антанас Ионасович Жмуйдзинавичюс". – Москва: Издателство „Советский Художник“, 1953, P. 63; “Exhibition of Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (Žemaitis) works". Kaunas: Lithuanian Art Society, 16 October - 16 November 1927; "Lithuanian Art Reviews. Exhibition". Catalogue. Kaunas, 1920, Nr. 312, P. 10; “Aušra”. Two-weekly illustrated newspaper. Vilnius, 10 November 1911, Nr. 3, P. 47; "Litwa. Dwutygodnik ilustrowany litewski". 15 March 1910, Nr. 5(34)),P. 68; "Lithuanian Art Society. Exhibition of Lithuanian art in Riga". April, 1910. Catalogue. Kat. Nr. 115; 3; "Litewskie towarzystwo sztuk pięknych. Litewska Wsytawa sztuk pięknych". Vilnius: March, 1910, Kat. Nr. 98, P. 6.
Photographs: Lithuanian writer Pranas Mašiotas with family, 1939 (painting on the wall - "A Village in Dzūkija"); “Aušra”. Two-weekly illustrated newspaper. Vilnius, 10 November 1911, Nr. 3; “Exhibition of Antanas Žmuidzinavičius (Žemaitis) works". Catalogue. Kaunas: Lithuanian Art Sociaty“, 1927; "Lithuanian Art Reviews. Exhibition". Catalogue. Kaunas, 1920; "Litewskie towarzystwo sztuk pięknych. Litewska Wsytawa sztuk pięknych", Vilnius: March, 1910; painting display in A. Žmuidzinavičius Creations and Collections Museum with: director of the museum Osvaldas Daugelis, Ms Laurence des Cars, director of the Musee d’Orsay and Musee de l’Orangerie, Mr Rudolphe Rapetti, head curator of the French National Heritage, director of the Directorate of French Museums and member of CODART, dr. Ginta Gerharde-Upeniece, director of Latvian National Museum of Art; display in the exhibition "The Break of Dawn. Lithuanian Visual Arts Prior to 1918", 10 May 2018 – 31 May 2019, M. K. Čiurlionis National Museum of Art, Kaunas.