The biography of Vincentas Gečas is as contradictory as the Soviet period itself. Gečas was concerned with improving the living conditions of artists, but at the same time he spoke out against excessive creative freedom. Gečas enjoyed considerable authority and was a long-standing rector of the Vilnius Art Institute. After receiving recognition from government authorities for his monumental thematic paintings while still a young artist, he was given permission to travel to Italy for an apprenticeship. Once there, Gečas’ talent as a colorist became evident. His bright color palette and witty depiction of everyday Soviet life, even in his politically charged works, allowed the irony to shine through.
During the Thaw under Nikita Khrushchev, the artist revealed himself as a keen observer, painting portraits of relatives, artists, and various other people, as well as streets and everyday scenes. Even when depicting such Soviet routines as a collective farm board meeting, Gečas’ paintings look like screenshots from an intriguing film.
Vincentas Gečas
Collective Farm Board Meeting | 1980
Oil on canvas | 170 × 170 cm
Lithuanian National Museum of Art