Laima Laučkaitė, Art in Vilnius 900-1915
(Vilnius: Baltos Lankos, 2008)
According to the recommendation by the AABS reviewers, Art in Vilnius is a “pioneering study in art history and the city of Vilnius. It presents Vilnius as a multicultural city in which different ethnic-national cultures overlap but also pursue their own agendas, and it is beautifully illustrated.” The review noted that the period 1900-1915 is a crucial one both for the development of art and for the development of national identity in the city. “What is particularly interesting is the book’s sophisticated approach which begins with different national groups producing art in the city (Poles, Lithuanians, Jews, Russians), then goes into specific artists in more depth (two Poles and one Lithuanian), followed by a discussion of the “Avant-Garde” and “Belle Époque” in Vilnius. It is a informative, stimulating, and engrossing read.”