Village in Dzūkija

This is one of the most famous landscape paintings, The Village of Noblemen of Dzūkija Ethnographic Area II (1910), by Antanas Žmuidzinavičius. For many years the history of this painting was unknown. The painting recorded as No. 133 in the register of Žmuidzinavičius’ works was exhibited in the Fourth Exhibition of Lithuanian Art. When this exhibition was moved to Riga, the painting was sold to the writer, Pranas Mašiotas. Celebrating his 60th birthday and 35th anniversary of his career, the artist summed up his work: ‘I consider my most prominent works to be as follows: Consonance (at Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA. USA, and its replica – at V.D. museum), Morning Song (Sisters of St. Casimir, Chicago, Ill.), Portrait of my Wife, Injured Commander of Riflemen, Samogitian Cemetery, The Village of Noblemen of Dzūkija Ethnographic Area, etc.’ The painting depicts thatched roof cottages on a hill, against a light reddish sky. The important focus of the painting is an ornate cross and a lonely pine tree. It is a painfully familiar image of a modest village in Dzūkija ethnographic area. It is delicate, true, and unadorned. Looking at the painting one is trying not to disturb the idyllic peace and quiet emanating from it.