Antanas Žmuidzinavičius ( pl, Antoni Żmujdzinowicz, 31 October 1876 – 9 August 1966) was a Lithuanian painter and art collector.
Educated at the
Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary, Žmuidzinavičius worked as a teacher while pursuing art education in the evenings in
Warsaw. He further studied at the
Académie Colarossi
The Académie Colarossi (1870–1930) was an art school in Paris founded in 1870 by the Italian model and sculptor Filippo Colarossi. It was originally located on the Île de la Cité, and it moved in 1879 to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the ...
and
Académie Vitti
The Académie Vitti was an art school in Paris, France.
It was founded and operated by a family of Italian artists' models from the Valle di Comino to the south of Rome.
The academy was progressive in its support for women artists, and gained a hi ...
in
Paris. In 1906, he returned to Lithuania and organized the First Exhibition of Lithuanian Art and the
Lithuanian Art Society which he chaired. He also established the Vilnius Art Society which united artists of different nationalities. In 1908–1909 and 1921–1924, he toured western Europe and the United States. In 1919–1921 and 1924–1966, he lived and worked in
Kaunas. He worked to collect, preserve, and properly exhibit works of
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis ( pl, Mikołaj Konstanty Czurlanis – ) was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer.
Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau, and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been ...
as well as to establish the
Vytautas the Great War Museum
The Vytautas the Great War Museum ( lt, Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus) is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was built in Art Deco and early functionalism style.
Originally it was established in 1921 by Vladas Nagevičius but later it was deci ...
. He participated in the
Lithuanian Wars of Independence
The Lithuanian Wars of Independence, also known as the Freedom Struggles ( lt, Laisvės kovos), refer to three wars Lithuania fought defending its independence at the end of World War I: with Bolshevik forces (December 1918 – August 1919), Ber ...
and was a founding member of the
Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (LRU, lt, Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga), also referred to as Šauliai ( lt, šaulys for ''rifleman''), is a paramilitary non-profit organisation supported by the State. The activities are in three main areas: milita ...
. He was chairman of the Riflemen's Union as well as chief editor of its magazine ''
Trimitas'' from 1929 until 1934. Žmuidzinavičius taught drawing at the
Kaunas Art School (renamed to Kaunas Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts in 1941 and State Art Institute of Lithuania in 1951) in 1926–1953 and at the
Kaunas Polytechnic Institute
Kaunas University of Technology (abbreviated as KTU, ) is a public research university located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Established in 1922, KTU has been one of the top centers of Lithuanian science education. According to Lithuanian National ...
in 1953–1966. He was recognized as the
People's Painter of the USSR in 1957.
Žmuidzinavičius created more than 2,000 pieces of art and is best known for his landscapes that create a sense of longing. He also created portraits of famous people, scenes of everyday life, religious imagery. He also helped design the modern
flag of Lithuania
The national flag of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos vėliava) consists of a horizontal tricolour of yellow, green, and red. It was adopted on 25 April 1918 during Lithuania's first period of independence (in the 20th century) from 1918 to 1940, which ...
, created a version of the
coat of arms of Lithuania
The coat of arms of Lithuania consists of a mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield, known as (). Since the early 15th century, it has been Lithuania's official coat of arms and is one of the oldest European coats of arms. It is al ...
that was widely used during the interwar period, designed postage stamps and Lithuanian currency banknotes. Žmuidzinavičius was an avid collector. He donated his collections to the
M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in 1961 which opened the
Žmuidzinavičius Museum in his former home in 1966. His collection of devils outgrew the museum and was moved to the dedicated annexe in 1982. Two other small museums are dedicated to him in
Seirijai where he was born and in where he grew up.
Biography
Before World War I
Žmuidzinavičius was born in
Seirijai, then part of
Congress Poland
Congress Poland, Congress Kingdom of Poland, or Russian Poland, formally known as the Kingdom of Poland, was a polity created in 1815 by the Congress of Vienna as a semi-autonomous Polish state, a successor to Napoleon's Duchy of Warsaw. It w ...
, a client state of the
Russian Empire, in 1876. After less than two years, his parents bought a farm and moved to near
Alytus
Alytus is a city with municipal rights in southern Lithuania. It is the capital of Alytus County. Its population in 2022 was 53,925. Alytus is the historical centre of the Dzūkija region. The city lies on the banks of the Nemunas River. The ma ...
.
[ His father participated in the ]Uprising of 1863
The January Uprising ( pl, powstanie styczniowe; lt, 1863 metų sukilimas; ua, Січневе повстання; russian: Польское восстание; ) was an insurrection principally in Russia's Kingdom of Poland that was aimed at ...
and served a prison sentence in the Sejny
Sejny ( lt, Seinai) is a town in north-eastern Poland and the capital of Sejny County, in Podlaskie Voivodeship, close to the northern border with Lithuania and Belarus. It is located in the eastern part of the Suwałki Lake Area ( pl, Pojez ...
prison.[ His parents had eleven children, but only two daughters and three sons reached adulthood.][ In 1890–1894, he studied at the Veiveriai Teachers' Seminary.][ After the graduation, he taught at Polish rural schools in Zawady and Waniewo. There he started drawing with pencils and writing his first poetry in Polish and Lithuanian.][ In 1899, he managed to get a transfer to Warsaw. He continued to work as a teacher while studying painting at private courses of ]Wojciech Gerson
Wojciech Gerson (; July 1, 1831 – February 25, 1901) was a leading Polish painter of the mid-19th century, and one of the foremost representatives of the Polish school of Realism during the foreign Partitions of Poland. He served as long-time ...
as well as an evening art school (director Evgeny Alexandrovich Zolotarev).[ Žmuidzinavičius' works were first exhibited at the gallery of in 1902 and at the ]Zachęta
The Zachęta National Gallery of Art (Polish: ''Zachęta Narodowa Galeria Sztuki'') is a contemporary art museum in the center of Warsaw, Poland. The Gallery's chief purpose is to present and support Polish contemporary art and artists. With numero ...
gallery in 1904.[ He also established contacts with other Lithuanian artists in Warsaw, including ]Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis ( pl, Mikołaj Konstanty Czurlanis – ) was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer.
Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau, and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been ...
and Petras Rimša
Petras Rimša ( pl, Piotr Rymsza, 3 November 1881 in Naudžiai, Vilkaviškis district – 2 October 1961 in Kaunas) was one of the first professional Lithuanian sculptors and medalists.
Biography
Rimša was born to a family of farmers in Suvalkij ...
. In 1903, he passed the examinations at the Imperial Academy of Arts to become a high school art teacher and obtained a better job at a gymnasium.[ However, he continued to pursue education and departed to Paris in December 1904.][ He studied at the ]Académie Colarossi
The Académie Colarossi (1870–1930) was an art school in Paris founded in 1870 by the Italian model and sculptor Filippo Colarossi. It was originally located on the Île de la Cité, and it moved in 1879 to 10 rue de la Grande-Chaumière in the ...
and Académie Vitti
The Académie Vitti was an art school in Paris, France.
It was founded and operated by a family of Italian artists' models from the Valle di Comino to the south of Rome.
The academy was progressive in its support for women artists, and gained a hi ...
as well as at the study of Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa
Hermenegildo Anglada Camarasa (1871–1959), known in Catalan as Hermenegild (or Hermen) Anglada Camarasa, was a Catalan and Balearic Spanish painter.
Life and career
Born in Barcelona, he studied there at the Llotja School. His early work h ...
.[ He also joined a small Lithuanian student group chaired by his future wife ]odontologist
Dentistry, also known as dental medicine and oral medicine, is the branch of medicine focused on the teeth, gums, and mouth. It consists of the study, diagnosis, prevention, management, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of ...
Marija Putvinskaitė.[ They married on 10 October 1909 in a ceremony officiated by ]Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas
Juozas Tumas also known by the pen name Vaižgantas (20 September 1869 – 29 April 1933) was a Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest and an activist during the Lithuanian National Revival. He was a prolific writer, editor of nine periodicals, unive ...
and witnessed by Jonas Basanavičius and Ona Vileišienė, wife of Petras Vileišis
Petras Vileišis (25 January 1851 – 12 August 1926) was a prominent Lithuanian engineer specializing in the construction of railroad bridges. He was very active in Lithuanian public life and together with his brothers Jonas and Antanas became ...
.[
In 1906, he returned to Lithuania and settled in Vilnius. Together with others, he organized the First Exhibition of Lithuanian Art at the ]Vileišis Palace
Vileišis Palace is a Neo-baroque style architectural ensemble in Vilnius, Lithuania, built for Petras Vileišis. Vileišis was a prominent Lithuanian engineer, political activist, publisher, and philanthropist who commissioned the palace in ...
and was later elected chairman of the Lithuanian Art Society.[ In 1908, he established the Vilnius Art Society which was joined by Polish, Russian, and Jewish artists, including ]Marianne von Werefkin
Marianne von Werefkin, born Marianna Vladimirovna Veryovkina ( rus, Мариа́нна Влади́мировна Верёвкина, Marianna Vladimirovna Veryovkina, mərʲɪˈanːə vlɐˈdʲimʲɪrəvnə vʲɪˈrʲɵfkʲɪnə; – 6 Febr ...
, , , Ber Zalkind
Ber Zalkind (1878-1944) was a Lithuanian Jewish painter. He studied in Paris, France and was a member of the Artists' Association of Vilna
Vilnius ( , ; see also other names) is the capital and largest city of Lithuania, with a population of ...
, Lev Antokolski (1872–1942), Ivan Rybakov (1870–1942).[ In 1908, he went on a tour of Western Europe ( Munich, Dresden, Florence, Rome, Naples) and United States.][ He continued to study art, visit museums and galleries, and paint. In Munich, he lived for four months with ]Petras Kalpokas
Petras Kalpokas (31 March 1880 in Miškinė – 5 December 1945) was a Lithuanian artist and professor.
Biography
Kalpokas was born on 31 March 1880 in the village of Miškinė, near Kvetkai, in the Kovno Governorate of the Russian Empire (i ...
.[ In the United States, he delivered lectures on Lithuanian art and history to various communities of ]Lithuanian Americans
Lithuanian Americans refers to American citizens and residents who are Lithuanian and were born in Lithuania, or are of Lithuanian descent. New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has the largest percentage of Lithuanian Americans (20.8%) in the United ...
and collected funds for the planned National House by the Lithuanian Scientific Society
The Lithuanian Scientific Society ( lt, Lietuvių mokslo draugija) was a scientific, cultural, and educational organization that was active between 1907 and 1940 in Vilnius, Lithuania. It was founded in 1907 on the initiative of Jonas Basanav ...
.[ In Chicago, he created backdrops for the local Lithuanian theatres.][ Upon his return to Lithuania, Žmuidzinavičius worked to collect and exhibit works of ]Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis ( pl, Mikołaj Konstanty Czurlanis – ) was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer.
Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau, and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been ...
who died of pneumonia in 1911. In 1912, he studied fresco painting in Hamburg.[ In May 1914, Žmuidzinavičius together with zoologist ]Tadas Ivanauskas
Tadas Ivanauskas (December 16, 1882 – June 1, 1970) was a Lithuanian zoologist and biologist, and one of the founders of Vytautas Magnus University.
Biography
He was born in Lebiodka Manor (today in Belarus) as a third child of Leonard Iwanowsk ...
traveled to the White Sea and painted arctic landscapes.[
]
Interwar
During World War I, Žmuidzinavičius worked as a teacher at the newly established Lithuanian courses for teachers and Lithuanian gymnasium.[ In 1917, he worked at '']Lietuvos aidas
''Lietuvos aidas'' (literally: ''Echo of Lithuania'') is a daily newspaper in Lithuania. It was established on September 6, 1917 by Antanas Smetona, and became the semi-official voice of the newly formed Lithuanian government. When the government ...
'' and helped organize Vilnius Conference
The Vilnius Conference or Vilnius National Conference ( lt, Vilniaus konferencija) met between September 18, 1917 and September 22, 1917, and began the process of establishing a Lithuanian state based on ethnic identity and language that would ...
(designed tickets, decorated the meeting hall, etc.).[ When Soviets captured Vilnius at the start of the ]Lithuanian–Soviet War
The Lithuanian–Soviet War or Lithuanian–Bolshevik War ( lt, karas su bolševikais) was fought between newly independent Lithuania and the Russian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic in the aftermath of World War I. It was part of the larg ...
in December 1918, Žmuidzinavičius established a commission that sought to collect and safeguard artworks in the city.[ In 1919–1921 and 1924–1966, he lived and worked in Kaunas.][ He recruited men to the ]Lithuanian Army
The Lithuanian Armed Forces () are the military of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of the Lithuanian Land Forces, the Lithuanian Naval Force and the Lithuanian Air Force. In wartime, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service ...
during the Lithuanian War of Independence and was a founding member of the Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (LRU, lt, Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga), also referred to as Šauliai ( lt, šaulys for ''rifleman''), is a paramilitary non-profit organisation supported by the State. The activities are in three main areas: milita ...
. He participated in Lithuanian defence against Poland during the Żeligowski's Mutiny
Żeligowski's Mutiny ( pl, bunt Żeligowskiego, also ''żeligiada'', lt, Želigovskio maištas) was a Polish false flag operation led by General Lucjan Żeligowski in October 1920, which resulted in the creation of the Republic of Central Lithuan ...
and was captured near but managed to escape after three days.[ He continued to care after the works of ]Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis
Mikalojus Konstantinas Čiurlionis ( pl, Mikołaj Konstanty Czurlanis – ) was a Lithuanian painter, composer and writer.
Čiurlionis contributed to symbolism and art nouveau, and was representative of the fin de siècle epoch. He has been ...
and worked to organize a museum to house them.[ In February 1921, together with ]Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas
Juozas Tumas also known by the pen name Vaižgantas (20 September 1869 – 29 April 1933) was a Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest and an activist during the Lithuanian National Revival. He was a prolific writer, editor of nine periodicals, unive ...
he was tasked with the establishment of the Vytautas the Great War Museum
The Vytautas the Great War Museum ( lt, Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus) is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was built in Art Deco and early functionalism style.
Originally it was established in 1921 by Vladas Nagevičius but later it was deci ...
.[
In July 1921, Žmuidzinavičius departed towards the United States but due to delays in getting appropriate travel documents, he reached the U.S. only in February 1922.][ The goal of the journey was to raise funds for the Lithuanian Riflemen and establish chapters of the union in various communities of ]Lithuanian Americans
Lithuanian Americans refers to American citizens and residents who are Lithuanian and were born in Lithuania, or are of Lithuanian descent. New Philadelphia, Pennsylvania has the largest percentage of Lithuanian Americans (20.8%) in the United ...
. Žmuidzinavičius organized about 200 meetings and lectures but Lithuanian Americans showed little interest in joining the Riflemen's Union.[ Due to the economic depression of 1920–1921 and competition from other organizations for the donations, the journey was not a financial success. He stopped representing the Riflemen's Union in November 1923 but remained in the United States until mid-1924 to pursue his artistic interests.][ He organized art exhibitions in Washington, DC and Chicago. Together with Aleksandras Račkus, he travelled across the western United States and exhibited works completed during the journey in New York.][ Upon his return, Žmuidzinavičius faced criticism of his handling of the collected funds. General submitted an official complaint to the Ministry of Defence in 1931. The unofficial investigation concluded only in 1936 and found that the funds were collected chaotically and haphazardly but did not find any evidence of misappropriation of the funds.][
Between 1926 and 1953, Žmuidzinavičius taught drawing at the Kaunas Art School (renamed to Kaunas Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts in 1941 and State Art Institute of Lithuania in 1951). In 1926–1928, he was chairman of the revived Lithuanian Art Society.][ In 1929, after the death of his brother-in-law , he became chairman of the ]Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (LRU, lt, Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga), also referred to as Šauliai ( lt, šaulys for ''rifleman''), is a paramilitary non-profit organisation supported by the State. The activities are in three main areas: milita ...
as well as chief editor of its magazine '' Trimitas''.[ He resigned in November 1934.][ During his tenure, Žmuidzinavičius did not call the required annual meetings that were empowered to elect the new chairman and board. Overall, his tenure was criticized for poor financial management and bookkeeping irregularities as well as nepotism (his wife was the chair, the niece was the vice-chair, and sister-in-law was honorary chair of the women's section).][ His resignation was likely a result of a government investigation and impending military reforms initiated by ]Stasys Raštikis
Stasys Raštikis (September 13, 1896 – May 3, 1985) was a Lithuanian military officer, ultimately obtaining the rank of divisional general. He was the commander of the Lithuanian Army from September 21, 1934, to April 23, 1940.
During World Wa ...
that militarized the union and subordinated it to the military.[ He was one of the founding members of the Lithuanian Artists' Association][ and briefly served as its chairman in 1940.][
]
After World War II
Unlike many other members of the Lithuanian intelligentsia and Lithuanian Riflemen, Žmuidzinavičius was not repressed by the Soviet regime
The political system of the Soviet Union took place in a federal single-party soviet socialist republic framework which was characterized by the superior role of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU), the only party permitted by the Con ...
.[ He was recognized as a Honored Artist of the Lithuanian SSR in 1946 and as the People's Artist of the Lithuanian SSR in 1954 and of the Soviet Union in 1957. In 1947, Žmuidzinavičius was awarded the academic title of ]professor
Professor (commonly abbreviated as Prof.) is an Academy, academic rank at university, universities and other post-secondary education and research institutions in most countries. Literally, ''professor'' derives from Latin as a "person who pr ...
.[ He taught at the ]Kaunas Polytechnic Institute
Kaunas University of Technology (abbreviated as KTU, ) is a public research university located in Kaunas, Lithuania. Established in 1922, KTU has been one of the top centers of Lithuanian science education. According to Lithuanian National ...
in 1953–1966.[ In 1958, he became a corresponding member of the Academy of Arts of the Soviet Union. In 1959–1963, he was elected to the ]Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR
The Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian SSR ( lt, Lietuvos TSR Aukščiausioji Taryba; russian: Верховный Совет Литовской ССР, ''Verkhovnyy Sovet Litovskoy SSR'') was the supreme soviet (main legislative institution) of the ...
, a rubber-stamp institution of the Lithuanian Communist Party
The Communist Party of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos komunistų partija; russian: Коммунистическая партия Литвы) is a banned communist party in Lithuania. The party was established in early October 1918 and operated clan ...
.[
Žmuidzinavičius died in Kaunas in 1966 and was buried in the ]Petrašiūnai Cemetery
Petrašiūnai Cemetery ( lt, Petrašiūnų kapinės) is Lithuania's premiere last resting place formally designated for graves of people influential in national history, politics, arts, and science.
Location
Petrašiūnai Cemetery is located abo ...
.
Works
Paintings
Žmuidzinavičius created more than 2,000 pieces of art,[ mostly oil paintings of landscapes but also portraits of famous people, scenes of everyday life, religious imagery.][ His paintings usually depict idealized and stylized nature scenes that create a melancholic mood and convey a particular longing.][ The main colors are soft, warm, and earthy.][ He conveys not only the beauty of nature but also the love and pride for his homeland. His paintings often depicted typical Lithuanian landscapes – shores of the ]Neman River
The Neman, Nioman, Nemunas or MemelTo bankside nations of the present: Lithuanian: be, Нёман, , ; russian: Неман, ''Neman''; past: ger, Memel (where touching Prussia only, otherwise Nieman); lv, Nemuna; et, Neemen; pl, Niemen; ...
, amber dunes of the Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that is enclosed by Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the North and Central European Plain.
The sea stretches from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from ...
, hills of Samogitia, forests of Dzūkija
Dzūkija or Dainava is one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. Dzūkija is a cultural region defined by traditional lifestyles and dialects of the local Lithuanian population (mostly rural farmers) and has never been defined as a politi ...
, lakes of Aukštaitija
Aukštaitija (; literally in Lithuanian: ''Upper lands'') is the name of one of five ethnographic regions of Lithuania. The name comes from lands being in upper basin of Nemunas River or being relative to Lowlands up to Šiauliai.
Geography
Auk ...
, grain fields, or cozy and intimate corners of nature (e.g. lonely trees).[ Overall, Žmuidzinavičius' art has features of romanticism (interwar period) and ]realism
Realism, Realistic, or Realists may refer to:
In the arts
*Realism (arts), the general attempt to depict subjects truthfully in different forms of the arts
Arts movements related to realism include:
* Classical Realism
*Literary realism, a mov ...
(post-war period).[ He represented ]academism
Academic art, or academicism or academism, is a style of painting and sculpture produced under the influence of European academies of art. Specifically, academic art is the art and artists influenced by the standards of the French Académie ...
and rejected modernist experimentations.[
He also created posters and book illustrations.][ His works are kept by various museums, including the Lithuanian National Museum of Art, ]Institute of Lithuanian Literature and Folklore
An institute is an organisational body created for a certain purpose. They are often research organisations (research institutes) created to do research on specific topics, or can also be a professional body.
In some countries, institutes can ...
, Vytautas the Great War Museum
The Vytautas the Great War Museum ( lt, Vytauto Didžiojo karo muziejus) is a museum in Kaunas, Lithuania. It was built in Art Deco and early functionalism style.
Originally it was established in 1921 by Vladas Nagevičius but later it was deci ...
, Tretyakov Gallery in Moscow,[ and Moscow State University.][ catalogs of his exhibitions were published in 1956, 1957, and 1963. Albums of his artwork were published in 1966 and 1977 (paintings) as well as in 1987 (]bookplate
An ''Ex Libris'' (from ''ex-librīs'', ), also known as a bookplate (or book-plate, as it was commonly styled until the early 20th century), is a printed or decorative label pasted into a book, often on the front endpaper, to indicate ownership. ...
s).[ His paintings are regularly sold at art auctions. His most expensive painting ''Dzūkų kaimelis'' (Village of Dzūkai) was sold for 53,000 euros at Vilnius Auction in 2013.][ It is a well-known painting that is frequently added to various albums of Lithuanian art and was originally acquired by Pranas Mašiotas in 1910.][
]
Design
Žmuidzinavičius participated in the creation of the modern Flag of Lithuania
The national flag of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos vėliava) consists of a horizontal tricolour of yellow, green, and red. It was adopted on 25 April 1918 during Lithuania's first period of independence (in the 20th century) from 1918 to 1940, which ...
. He prepared green-red flag which decorated the halls during the Vilnius Conference
The Vilnius Conference or Vilnius National Conference ( lt, Vilniaus konferencija) met between September 18, 1917 and September 22, 1917, and began the process of establishing a Lithuanian state based on ethnic identity and language that would ...
in 1917.[ However, the delegates found such flag too dark and gloomy and Tadas Daugirdas proposed adding a yellow strip. The ]Council of Lithuania
The Council of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Taryba, german: Litauischer Staatsrat, pl, Rada Litewska), after July 11, 1918 the State Council of Lithuania ( lt, Lietuvos Valstybės Taryba) was convened at the Vilnius Conference that took place betwe ...
created a special three-member (Žmuidzinavičius, Daugirdas, and Jonas Basanavičius) commission to come up with the final flag design which was submitted on 19 April 1918. The proposed tricolor yellow-green-red was adopted and is in use today.[ Žmuidzinavičius also created a version of the ]coat of arms of Lithuania
The coat of arms of Lithuania consists of a mounted armoured knight holding a sword and shield, known as (). Since the early 15th century, it has been Lithuania's official coat of arms and is one of the oldest European coats of arms. It is al ...
which was popular in interwar Lithuania (no design was chosen as the official version by the government). His version was based on the work of and depicted the knight diagonally giving the impression that it is flying.[ Žmuidzinavičius disregarded traditional colors and chose dark-toned shadows. Žmuidzinavičius also created some symbolic paintings with the rider from the coat of arms.][
In 1919, Žmuidzinavičius participated in the plans to launch the national currency to replace the ]ostmark
Ostmark is a German term meaning either Eastern march when applied to territories or Eastern Mark when applied to currencies.
Ostmark may refer to:
*the medieval March of Austria and its predecessors ''Bavarian Eastern March'' and ''March of Pan ...
and ostrubel. He created drafts of the new banknotes (called ''muštinis'') and travelled to Sweden to negotiate the printing, but the plans were abandoned.[ Instead, Lithuania introduced the gold-backed Lithuanian litas in 1922. It is very likely that Žmuidzinavičius participated in the design of the first litas banknotes as they bear the coat of arms of Lithuania that is very similar to Žmuidzinavičius' version.][ In 1927, Lithuania redesigned litas banknotes and Žmuidzinavičius was asked to design the 10 litas banknotes that would depict a Lithuanian village. He based his design on a photo by of his brother sowing grain in spring.][
In addition, Žmuidzinavičius created 32 postage stamps][ and designed the first hats and badges for the ]Lithuanian Army
The Lithuanian Armed Forces () are the military of Lithuania. The Lithuanian Armed Forces consist of the Lithuanian Land Forces, the Lithuanian Naval Force and the Lithuanian Air Force. In wartime, the Lithuanian State Border Guard Service ...
.[ He also designed the emblem ( Cross of Vytis in a shield) of the ]Lithuanian Riflemen's Union
The Lithuanian Riflemen's Union (LRU, lt, Lietuvos šaulių sąjunga), also referred to as Šauliai ( lt, šaulys for ''rifleman''), is a paramilitary non-profit organisation supported by the State. The activities are in three main areas: milita ...
.[
]
Collections
Žmuidzinavičius was also known as an avid collector. He collected various items related to Lithuanian art and culture. In particular, he collected examples of Lithuanian folk art – clay whistles, Lithuanian sashes, aprons, knitted items, wood carvings.[ He also collected paintings, sculptures, graphic works, musical instruments as well as letters, photos, publications. In 1961, Žmuidzinavičius gifted his collections to the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum.][ The collection of devil figurines reportedly started from a devil gifted by ]Juozas Tumas-Vaižgantas
Juozas Tumas also known by the pen name Vaižgantas (20 September 1869 – 29 April 1933) was a Lithuanian Roman Catholic priest and an activist during the Lithuanian National Revival. He was a prolific writer, editor of nine periodicals, unive ...
.[
]
Publications
During his life, Žmuidzinavičius published several books. Using pen name Antanas Žemaitis (his surname is derived from Polish word ''Żmudź'' which means ''Žemaitis'' or '' Samogitian''), he published a collection of essays ''Lietuvos keliais'' (On Lithuanian Roads, 1921) and of poems ''Gyvenimo takais'' (On Life's Paths, 1930).[ He also published two books of memoirs: ''Priešui ir tėvynei'' (For the Enemy and the Homeland) about his activities during the ]Lithuanian Wars of Independence
The Lithuanian Wars of Independence, also known as the Freedom Struggles ( lt, Laisvės kovos), refer to three wars Lithuania fought defending its independence at the end of World War I: with Bolshevik forces (December 1918 – August 1919), Ber ...
in 1931 and ''Peletė ir gyvenimas'' (Palette and Life) about his life and career in 1961.[
]
Legacy
Žmuidzinavičius Museum, a branch of the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum,[ was established in his former home in Kaunas in February 1966.][ The house, designed by architect ]Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis
Vytautas Landsbergis-Žemkalnis (10 March 1893 – 21 May 1993) was a Lithuanian architect most active in interwar Lithuania (1926–1939). He was the father of Vytautas Landsbergis, the first Lithuanian head of state after independence from the ...
, was built in 1928 and expanded in 1938 by adding the third floor.[ The first floor was rented out (for a time it was a Swedish consulate where writer worked),][ the second floor was the living quarters of the family, and the third floor was the art studio.][ The house was one of the 44 modernist interwar buildings that received the ]European Heritage Label
The European Heritage Label is a recognition awarded by the European Union to buildings, documents, museums, archives, monuments or events which are seen as milestones in the creation of today's Europe. The program is managed by the European Commis ...
in 2015.[ The memorial museum displays authentic interwar décor, Žmuidzinavičius' paintings and collections, and various archival items.][ At that the time of the museum's opening, it had a collection of about 260 statues of the devil.][ The collection steadily grew due to international donations and was moved to a newly constructed three-floor annexe in 1982.][ The annexe, known as the Devils' Museum, now houses more than 3,000 devil-themed exhibits from more than 70 countries.][ An album of the devils' collection was published in 1967 and 1973.][
The house in where Žmuidzinavičius grew up was turned into a memorial museum in 1982 by his nephew the theatre historian .][ The museum displays restored furniture, photos, paintings, and other material related to the family.][ Until 2017, the museum organized an annual amateur theatre festival.][ The house where Žmuidzinavičius was born in Seirijai was demolished in 1938 but its location is marked by a tall memorial stone erected in 1976.][ In 1986, a room-museum dedicated to Žmuidzinavičius was opened at the high school in Seirijai.][ The school was renamed in his honor in 1989.][ In 1949–1966, Žmuidzinavičius spent summer vacations in a wooden villa in Palanga. The house, built by Graf , was added to the Lithuanian Registry of Cultural Heritage in 1993.][
Streets in Kaunas, ]Alytus
Alytus is a city with municipal rights in southern Lithuania. It is the capital of Alytus County. Its population in 2022 was 53,925. Alytus is the historical centre of the Dzūkija region. The city lies on the banks of the Nemunas River. The ma ...
, Seirijai, , and Balkūnai are named after Žmuidzinavičius.[
]
Awards
Žmuidzinavičius received the following awards:[
*1928: Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (3rd class)
*1931: Riflemen's Star
*1932: Order of the Three Stars]
*1936: Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas (2nd class)
*1946: Honored Artist of the Lithuanian SSR
*1954: People's Artist of the Lithuanian SSR
*1957: People's Artist of the Soviet Union
People's Artist of the USSR ( rus, Народный артист СССР, Narodny artist SSSR), also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to artists of the Soviet Union.
Nomenclature and significan ...
[
]
References
External links
A. Žmuidzinavičius Creations and Collections Museum
{{DEFAULTSORT:Zmuidzinavicius, Antanas
1876 births
1966 deaths
20th-century Lithuanian painters
Kaunas University of Technology faculty
Members of the Supreme Soviet of the Lithuanian Soviet Socialist Republic
People's Artists of the USSR (visual arts)
Recipients of the Order of the Lithuanian Grand Duke Gediminas
Recipients of the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Landscape painters
Painters from the Russian Empire
Lithuanian art collectors
Lithuanian educators
Lithuanian illustrators
Lithuanian painters
Lithuanian portrait painters
Soviet art collectors
Soviet educators
Soviet illustrators
Soviet painters
Burials at Petrašiūnai Cemetery