For the night rest
| Author: |
Viktoras Petravičius (1906–1989) |
| Created: | 1949 |
| Material: | paper |
| Technique: | linocut |
| Dimensions: | 48 × 38 cm |
| Signature: | bottom left: 29. Nakties poilsiui. For the Night rest |
Viktoras Petravičius (1906–1989) made this linocut before leaving Europe for the USA, or just after his arrival in the New World. The picture shows the experience of refugees. There are many things in the small space where the woman is preparing to go to bed: a bed, a wicker armchair with her clothes, a chest with various objects piled up on it, a rope stretched out over the chest with clothes thrown over it, and pictures on the walls. All this implies the unstable existence of wanderers, their cramped life in temporary dwellings, and their efforts to create cosy surroundings with a minimum of resources, all the while in tense anticipation of resettlement, and uncertainty about the living conditions in a new place. At the same time, the composition emanates the joy of anticipated intimacy and erotic attraction, which is characteristic of most of Petravičius’ work.
Text author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album OBJECTS ON SHOW (2017). Compiler and author Giedrė Jankevičiūtė
