Players

Let's take a look at four paintings created by Leonardas Gutauskas in 2010: two works entitled Lošėjai (The Players), and Vynas ir mėlyna staltiesė (Wine and a Blue Tablecloth) and Vynas ir obuolys (Wine and Apple). They all share a common scene: each painting portrays people sitting at a table. This is not surprising, as the artist is known for his long and comprehensive development of a given theme. What is the painter seeking to find when he portrays a table set for two occupants? Or perhaps we should say three, because we can also see in each painting a wine bottle set between the two figures, almost like an intermediary. "The most important things in painting are composition and color. The scene can be the same," Gutauskas has said, pointing to Pablo Picasso as an example.

How does one portray a cozy conversation?

The paintings convey a peaceful and homey atmosphere, created using several methods:
• The composition of all four of the paintings is closed and symmetrical – just like being alone with another person.
• The coloring is rather light and soft, as if the scene was lit by the warm light of a lamp.
• Curved lines and circular shapes predominate. All of this creates a peaceful and cozy atmosphere.
• The figures are abstracted, but each has its own unique, almost cartoon-like characteristics.

The artist does not refrain from giving a friendly smile to his characters in these paintings.

Gutauskas' paintings and art history

The theme of people sitting around a table is not a new one in the history of art. Van Gogh's Potato Eaters communicate with only their eyes in a gloomy setting, and we see women sitting by a table in many works by Henri Matisse. Works portraying people seated at a table by Vincas Kisarauskas are notable in the Lithuanian context.

When we look at Gutauskas' Lošėjai we are reminded of Paul Cezanne's The Card Players (1892-1895). The two works have much in common in their composition (hats, pipes, the seclusion of the composition and the same wine bottle on the table). If we compare them we will notice that Gutauskas' players and wine drinkers, unlike Cezanne's characters, relate to each other in a completely abstract, conditional space. Our view is completely unconstrained and our entire focus is drawn to the generalized main characters. Earlier paintings by Gutauskas tend more often to portray eternal, sacred themes. By portraying a routine meeting of two people around a table, the artist remains faithful to themes that are independent of time or a specific environment.
The artist does not tell a story in his paintings. He does this through his writing: Gutauskas is also a full member of the Writers' Union, writing books for children and fiction for adults. In his paintings, he stops time and leads the viewer to a meditative space that defies time.