Collection
Vaclovas Ratas
(Australia, Lithuania 25 Feb 1910–03 Jan 1973)
- Title
- (Aboriginal figures)
- Place of origin
-
Perth →
Western Australia →
Australia
- Year
- 1953
- Media category
- Materials used
- wood engraving, printed in black ink on paper
- Edition
- 1/25
- Dimensions
-
12.6 x 12.6cm blockmark
- Signature & date
- Signed, incised in block to print lower c., "RATAS". Signed l.r., pencil "Vaclovas Ratas". Dated lower c., pencil "... 1953".
- Credit
- Gift of June Morley 2006
- Accession number
- 18.2006
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Vaclovas Ratus (Rataiskis) was born in Paliepsis, Lithuania. After graduation from the Kaunas School of Art in 1935, he studied in Italy. He was curator at the M K Ciurlionis Gallery, Kaunas 1937-44, and from 1945-49 established an art school in Augsburg, Germany. His wood engravings were used to illustrate books in Lithuania and Germany.
He emigrated to Australia as a displaced person in 1949, arriving in Perth and moved to Sydney in 1954. He was a foundation member of the Sydney Printmakers with Eva Kubbos, Henry Salkauskas and critic Laurie Thomas, and a member of the Contemporary Art Society. His work grew more experimental over these years - for example, in 1959 he began making relief prints from carved blocks of plaster. His work was included in the landmark 1963-64 'Australian Print Survey' traveling exhibition.
