Antanas Sutkus (Lithuanian, b. 1939). Pioneer, Ignalina, 1964. Gelatin silver print, printed later. Signed and dated by ...

Description

Antanas Sutkus (Lithuanian, b. 1939)
Pioneer, Ignalina, 1964
Gelatin silver print, printed later. Signed and dated by the artist, credit, title and date in an unknown hand in pencil, verso.
image/ sheet: 15-3/8 x 11-3/4 inches (39.0 x 29.8 cm)

PROVENANCE:
Grisebach GmbH: Berlin, Modern and Contemporary Photographs, November 30, 2016, lot 2144.

A leading figure in Lithuanian photography, Sutkus was born in KluoniŠkiai, a small, rural village in the heart of the country. He adopted photography as a teenager, purchasing his first camera with money he made from digging peat.

Sutkus' images are subtly seditious, reflecting the hardships of everyday life in Lithuania under Soviet control, yet also reflective of his warm affection and respect for his compatriots. This powerful image, depicting a solemn group of Pioneers (the Soviet boy/girl scout equivalent), is perhaps Sutkus' finest image.


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