Penitent Magdalene

This work is from the series Mitologijos (Mythologies), the first paintings displayed in Leopoldas Surgailis’ (1928-2016) solo exhibition in 1966 in Vilnius, which earned him recognition from the Lithuanian community in exile. As in the other pictures in the series, the composition represents a Christian saint, although it is difficult to say whether the Soviet censors were aware of this: the image of a scull, which helps us to identify Mary Magdalen, is rendered very discreetly, and it resembles more a loose button lying in the corner of the picture. On the other hand, in keeping with the tradition of representing the penitent Magdalen, the artist probably stressed the green eyes and red hair, features of the passionate temptress which appealed to him the most. The combination of these colours, together with the background and the blue of the blouse, make the composition more decorative, and emphasise the energy exuded by the mighty figure of the kneeling woman.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

The monumental figure of a red-headed Mary Magdalene fills the whole plane of this picture by Leopoldas Surgailis (1928–2016). The Great Penitent is presented rather grotesquely: she is ungainly, with a large chin that reminds us of the sculptures by Žemaitijan religious carvers. European art usually highlights her beauty, but that becomes insignificant in the expressive language of this work. However, her sorrow is rendered very convincingly.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

1945-1990/">https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-daile-1945-1990/

Published: Leopoldas Surgailis. Painting, compiler and text author Laima Laučkaitė, Vilnius: Vilnius Academy of Arts Press, 2022, p. 59.

 

 

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius; “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); "Free and Unfree. Lithuanian Art between 1945 and 1990", 9 September 2021 – 30 April 2022, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė.
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024

This work is from the series Mitologijos (Mythologies), the first paintings displayed in Leopoldas Surgailis’ (1928-2016) solo exhibition in 1966 in Vilnius, which earned him recognition from the Lithuanian community in exile. As in the other pictures in the series, the composition represents a Christian saint, although it is difficult to say whether the Soviet censors were aware of this: the image of a scull, which helps us to identify Mary Magdalen, is rendered very discreetly, and it resembles more a loose button lying in the corner of the picture. On the other hand, in keeping with the tradition of representing the penitent Magdalen, the artist probably stressed the green eyes and red hair, features of the passionate temptress which appealed to him the most. The combination of these colours, together with the background and the blue of the blouse, make the composition more decorative, and emphasise the energy exuded by the mighty figure of the kneeling woman.

Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė

The monumental figure of a red-headed Mary Magdalene fills the whole plane of this picture by Leopoldas Surgailis (1928–2016). The Great Penitent is presented rather grotesquely: she is ungainly, with a large chin that reminds us of the sculptures by Žemaitijan religious carvers. European art usually highlights her beauty, but that becomes insignificant in the expressive language of this work. However, her sorrow is rendered very convincingly.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

1945-1990/">https://www.vle.lt/straipsnis/lietuvos-daile-1945-1990/

Published: Leopoldas Surgailis. Painting, compiler and text author Laima Laučkaitė, Vilnius: Vilnius Academy of Arts Press, 2022, p. 59.

 

 

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album MORE THAN JUST BEAUTY (2012). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė, HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė
Expositions: “More Than Just Beauty: The Image of Woman in the LAWIN collection”, 12 October – 11 November 2012, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius; “Heaven and Beyond. Works of religious art from the collection of Rolandas Valiūnas and the law firm Valiunas Ellex“, 31 May–24 September 2016, Church Heritage Museum, Vilnius (curators Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė); "Free and Unfree. Lithuanian Art between 1945 and 1990", 9 September 2021 – 30 April 2022, Lithuanian Art Centre TARTLE (Užupio St. 40, Vilnius). Curators Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė.
© LATGA, Vilnius 2024