Katalog der ausstellung des litauischen graphikers V. K. Jonynas : Salon „Ars“ : Riga 26.III.1944 - 16.IV.1944 (Catalog of the Exhibition of the Lithuanian Graphic Artist V. K. Jonynas : Salon “Ars”: Riga, March 26 - April 16, 1944)

Near fine condition; cover shows slight yellowing, soft and small creases across cover corners, stress lines across the spine; internally fine.

The exhibition of woodcuts by one of the most renowned 20th century Lithuanian graphic artists Vytautas Kazimieras Jonynas (1907–1997) was held at the salon "Ars" in Riga from March 26 to April 16, 1944.  The salon “Ars” as well as number of other art salons (around ten) were opened soon after the change of the occupational powers in the autumn of 1941. Wide-ranged activity of art salons in Nazi Latvia included in addition to the selling art pieces also organizing exhibitions, because the main exhibition halls were used for propagandistic and utilitaritan expositions. 

Current Jonynas exposition showcased 52 woodcuts dated mostly 1938-1943, but there were also some earlier works from the beginning of 1930s. The woodcuts made in the early 1930s followed the style of the traditional folk art and were made with bold lines, but later artist developed traits of personal stylistic tendencies close to realism with the more delicate lines. The core of the exhibition formed illustrations for the Lithuanian epic “Metai” (The Seasons) by Kristijonas Donelaitis (around 1770s), for which Jonynas won the Lithuanian National Prize in 1940. A significant departure from the "down to earth" realism of "Metai" and other pre-war woodcuts were demonstrated in the  Jonynas' subsequent works. For example, woodcuts for the Johann Wolfgang Goethe's "Die Leiden des Jungen Werters" (The Sorrows of the Young Werter) created in 1943 display a greater freedom and play-fulness of line. In addition to the book illustration, the exposition also included numerous ex-librises, portraits, landscapes.

The exhibition catalog includes introduction by Uga Skulme providing details about artist work and the current exposition, list of exhibits with indication of the year, used technique and dimensions, also eight full-page illustrations reproducing exhibited artworks.