Šv Mykolo Street

The graphic artist Roman Jakimowicz (1899–1964) made this engraving of Šv Mykolo Street when he was studying in the Art Department at Stephen Báthory University. The narrow lane running from Pilies Street to St Michael’s Church was well known to all students of art, as it led to the university’s art department on St Anne’s Street. The artist walked along this street every day, and was fascinated by its irregular curve and the way the buildings did not follow the line of the street. One house is built on the pavement, jutting out into the street. The strong lighting shows the chaotic structure of the building, which is composed of many parts, additions and tile-roofed extensions, and the blank wall along the lane hides the courtyard and the daily lives of the residents from passers-by. The rough style conveys a sense of the uneven cobbles and the heavy stonework: Vilnius is seen as an austere and ancient medieval city.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė)

The graphic artist Roman Jakimowicz (1899–1964) made this engraving of Šv Mykolo Street when he was studying in the Art Department at Stephen Báthory University. The narrow lane running from Pilies Street to St Michael’s Church was well known to all students of art, as it led to the university’s art department on St Anne’s Street. The artist walked along this street every day, and was fascinated by its irregular curve and the way the buildings did not follow the line of the street. One house is built on the pavement, jutting out into the street. The strong lighting shows the chaotic structure of the building, which is composed of many parts, additions and tile-roofed extensions, and the blank wall along the lane hides the courtyard and the daily lives of the residents from passers-by. The rough style conveys a sense of the uneven cobbles and the heavy stonework: Vilnius is seen as an austere and ancient medieval city.

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album VILNIUS. TOPOPHILIA I (2014). Compiler and author Laima Laučkaitė
Expositions: “Vilnius. Topophilia. Views of Vilnius from the collection of the law firm Ellex Valiunas”, 5 October – 26 November 2017, National Gallery of Art, Vilnius (curator Laima Laučkaitė)