Antanas Apolinaro Kuchas

(also A. A. Kučas). Born Jan. 11 (24), 1909, in the village of Deikiskiŝai, in present-day Biržai Raion, Lithuanian SSR. Soviet graphic artist. People’s Artist of the Lithuanian SSR (1969).

From 1929 to 1935, Kuchas studied at the Kaunas School of Art. Between 1944 and 1951 he was a teacher at the Kaunas Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts. In 1951 he became an instructor at the Art Institute of the Lithuanian SSR in Vilnius, receiving a professorship there in 1970.

Kuchas is a book designer and illustrator. He illustrated J. Žemaitė’s The Daughter-in-law (woodcut, 1963) and P. Cvirka’s Sunsets in the Niki District (linecut, 1967). He also executed works other than illustrations (On the Nemunas River, linecut, 1965). Kuchas’ work is marked by an expression and breadth of rhythms reminiscent of the traditions of the popular print (lubok) and folk woodcarving.