The Three Wise Men

Viktoras Petravičius (1906–1993) produced this linocut The Three Wise Men during the years of dramatic events when he and his family fled to the West at the end of the Second World War and lived for some time in Germany. His experience of war and exile brought about significant changes in his work, in terms of themes and expression of mood. The early spontaneous world of Lithuanian myths and archaic tales was supplemented with religious motifs and nostalgic symbols of the lost motherland. The linocut The Three Wise Men is one of his earliest and most original works. This story, based on the episode in the Holy Scriptures about the Magi, who came from far away to pay their respect to Jesus on His birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2), which is often portrayed in European art, is interpreted in an unusual way in this picture. The usual figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus and St Joseph are missing, but we can see the three kings leaning on sticks, and angels coming towards them joyfully and lightly. The angels and the kings are bringing the Good News about the birth of the Saviour, and are holding the books of the Gospels in their hands. The word evangélion (gospel) in Greek means ‘good news’.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė

Viktoras Petravičius (1906–1993) produced this linocut The Three Wise Men during the years of dramatic events when he and his family fled to the West at the end of the Second World War and lived for some time in Germany. His experience of war and exile brought about significant changes in his work, in terms of themes and expression of mood. The early spontaneous world of Lithuanian myths and archaic tales was supplemented with religious motifs and nostalgic symbols of the lost motherland. The linocut The Three Wise Men is one of his earliest and most original works. This story, based on the episode in the Holy Scriptures about the Magi, who came from far away to pay their respect to Jesus on His birth in Bethlehem (Matthew 2), which is often portrayed in European art, is interpreted in an unusual way in this picture. The usual figures of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Jesus and St Joseph are missing, but we can see the three kings leaning on sticks, and angels coming towards them joyfully and lightly. The angels and the kings are bringing the Good News about the birth of the Saviour, and are holding the books of the Gospels in their hands. The word evangélion (gospel) in Greek means ‘good news’.

Text author Dalia Vasiliūnienė

Source: Law firm Valiunas Ellex art album HEAVEN AND BEYOND (2016). Compiler Dalia Vasiliūnienė. Text authors Dalia Vasiliūnienė, Skaidrė Urbonienė