Motherhood

Matas Mečislovas Menčinskas (1897–1942) went down in Lithuanian art history as a wood sculptor, possibly the only one to work in the style of Expressionism. He remains relevant today because, while belonging to a generation when Neoclassicism was popular, he worked in a completely different style, developing high-quality salon Modernism. The sculptor participated in exhibitions during his time in Argentina, but did not achieve recognition, and struggled to survive on his art alone. In 1934, the impoverished artist was transported back to his homeland at no cost. The year 1932 marked the peak of his achievement, when his sculptures The Philosopher and Motherhood were officially presented by the Lithuanian Argentinian community to senior officials in Lithuania. The diaspora chaplain Juozas Janilionis brought them to Lithuania and presented them to President Antanas Smetona and Prime Minister Juozas Tūbelis. The sculpture Motherhood, which conveys the intimate relationship between a mother and child and shows the influence of Rodin, probably adorned one of the offices of Prime Minister Juozas Tūbelis.*

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

 

* Laura Petrauskaitė. Matas Menčinskas ir jo amžininkai: menininkų migracijos reikšmė 20 a. pirmos pusės Lietuvos dailės modernizacijai. Vilnius, 2019, p. 170.

 

Bibl.: Laura Petrauskaitė, „Perrašant tarpukario Lietuvos dailininkų biografijas: Skulptorius Matas Menčinskas“, in: Naujasis Židinys-Aidai, 2014, NR. 5, p. 28-35.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

Matas Mečislovas Menčinskas (1897–1942) went down in Lithuanian art history as a wood sculptor, possibly the only one to work in the style of Expressionism. He remains relevant today because, while belonging to a generation when Neoclassicism was popular, he worked in a completely different style, developing high-quality salon Modernism. The sculptor participated in exhibitions during his time in Argentina, but did not achieve recognition, and struggled to survive on his art alone. In 1934, the impoverished artist was transported back to his homeland at no cost. The year 1932 marked the peak of his achievement, when his sculptures The Philosopher and Motherhood were officially presented by the Lithuanian Argentinian community to senior officials in Lithuania. The diaspora chaplain Juozas Janilionis brought them to Lithuania and presented them to President Antanas Smetona and Prime Minister Juozas Tūbelis. The sculpture Motherhood, which conveys the intimate relationship between a mother and child and shows the influence of Rodin, probably adorned one of the offices of Prime Minister Juozas Tūbelis.*

Text author Jurgita Ludavičienė

 

* Laura Petrauskaitė. Matas Menčinskas ir jo amžininkai: menininkų migracijos reikšmė 20 a. pirmos pusės Lietuvos dailės modernizacijai. Vilnius, 2019, p. 170.

 

Bibl.: Laura Petrauskaitė, „Perrašant tarpukario Lietuvos dailininkų biografijas: Skulptorius Matas Menčinskas“, in: Naujasis Židinys-Aidai, 2014, NR. 5, p. 28-35.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album THE ART OF MATERIALS. Compiler and text author Jurgita Ludavičienė