Česlovas Janušas

(1907 - 1993)

Biography

Česlovas Janušas was born on July 18, 1907 in Feodosiya, Ukraine. In 1926-1931 the painter studied at Kaunas Art School. Having graduated, he worked as a teacher, painted vigorously and participated in exhibitions. At the end of the Second World War he left Lithuania. While in post-war Germany, he participated in international exhibitions together with other émigré painters. In 1950 he took his family to the United States and settled down in New York. Due to his position at Eastman Kodak Company, he painted only in his free time but, nevertheless, was a productive painter and an active participant at the exhibitions in New York, Chicago, Boston, Detroit, Philadelphia, and elsewhere. Česlovas Janušas successfully joined American artists’ society, participated in exhibitions, was a member of several unions, earned important awards. He died on October 30, 1993 in New York, USA.

Style

Česlovas Janušas is one of the most eminent marine painters among Lithuanian pre-war and émigré artists. Winter and autumn landscapes as well as the sea when raged with storm or abated before night were among his favourites. He often depicted sunrise or sunset, moonlight or moonrise above the sea. Speaking of space composition, play of light and shadows, and the tiniest nuances of light he was a real master. His traditional realist landscapes are saturated with lyricism and romanticism. Česlovas Janušas’ watercolours are notable for their exceptional finesse.
Česlovas Janušas painted in oil and watercolour; the landscapes depict various places in Lithuania: the Baltic Sea, seaside, farmsteads in Samogitia and Upper Lithuanian, fields, hills, lakes, and the banks of Neris and Nemunas. Recalled from memory, Lithuanian landscapes reflect the remembrances of the homeland.