Litauische Maler in München

Abstract

Close artistic relationships between Munich and Lithuania sprang up in the second half of the XIXth century. Lithuanian painters chose to study in Munich for a variety of reasons. First of all, there wasn't any school of higher education in fine arts in Lithuania; secondly, they were attracted by the Polish artists' community, which was very large and consolidated in Munich; and finally, it was Munich's democratic atmosphere which enabled Lithuanian painters to feel free in their creation, to resist russification, and to express ideas which could evoke national consciousness and hope to regain independence of Lithuania. The article analyses some of the creations of the most eminent Lithuanian painters, whose artistic style matured in Munich. Most of them accepted realism and supplemented it by neo-romantic nuance. It is important to stress that these painters actively participated in forming the physiognomy of Lithuanian fine art in the end of the XIXth and the beginning of the XXth century. In this way the main bridge from Munich to Lithuanian art was created.