Jonas Rimša Tropical Prayer, 1950-60

Sign.: LL J.Rimša

One of the most impressive paintings by Jonas Rimša.

"The wonderful bronze bodies of the bathing Indians, as their epitaphs resonate with the background of jungle foliage," praised the Latin American art critics.

The expatriate writer Karolė Pažėraitė (1903-1988) honored Jonas Rimša and his work by naming one of her novels after him.

Jonas Rimša (1903-1978), in search of happiness, embarked on a journey to South America in 1926, after which he wandered, gathering impressions and refining his artistic creativity. From 1943, invited by the Bolivian government, J. Rimša lived, created, and worked in educational activities in Sucre, later founding a private art school in La Paz in 1944. Rimša's rich artistic legacy consists of more than 1000 paintings (scattered throughout the USA, Australia, South America, Europe). Part of his works is now preserved in the National Art Museum, and the M. K. Čiurlionis National Art Museum in Kaunas. The artist painted figurative compositions, landscapes, portraits, and created an original watercolor technique. For his contributions to Bolivian culture, J. Rimša was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Bolivia (1950). The Bolivian government acquired about 250 of his paintings and handed them over to the most important state institutions."