Vytautas the Great

Alongside these professional patriotic works, there were quite a few amateur attempts to create commemorative pieces. A bust of Grand Duke Vytautas carved in wood by an unknown artist is one of these. These artefacts were meant to foster a feeling of pride in the country’s history. The story of Grand Duke Vytautas was often invoked during the interwar period in order to rally the nation. In Kaunas, it was also used to create a mythology for the city, so the name of Vytautas the Great was given to some central objects: the Lithuanian University, the War Museum, and the new bridge over the River Nemunas.

Text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė

Alongside these professional patriotic works, there were quite a few amateur attempts to create commemorative pieces. A bust of Grand Duke Vytautas carved in wood by an unknown artist is one of these. These artefacts were meant to foster a feeling of pride in the country’s history. The story of Grand Duke Vytautas was often invoked during the interwar period in order to rally the nation. In Kaunas, it was also used to create a mythology for the city, so the name of Vytautas the Great was given to some central objects: the Lithuanian University, the War Museum, and the new bridge over the River Nemunas.

Text authors Dovilė Barcytė and Ieva Burbaitė