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Jan Bułhak’s Architectural Landscape of Vilnius features a selection of 15 modern prints from the original photographs taken by the artist in 1912-1914. During this time the photographer was extremely active in photographing Vilnius – the city archives received a collection of fifteen volumes made up of 462 of his photographs. Another 630 of his photographs made up a fourteen volume album Vilnius in the Photographs of Jan Bułhak. In photographing the panoramas, architectural ensembles, churches and the streets Bułhak not only documents the city, but also reveals the unique mysterious character of its old town and surrounding landscapes.

“So here is our Wilno: some say the city is dirty, poor and dull; others assert it is lovely, exceptional and noble place, - writes Jan Bułhak about Vilnius. What can we say about it today? From which side we should begin our investigation of our Wilno, sunken deep in a two-river valley, surrounded by mountainous greenery and cragged with graceful church towers in the shape of spiral-like poplar trees of an old country manor?

Let us not hurry inside the city, and linger for a moment at its threshold. Wilno dwells between the hills, allowing the pleasure of a distant observation. So let us enjoy this pleasure of viewing the city from a distance.“

Jan Bułhak (1876–1950) studied philosophy at the University of Kraków 1897-1899 and photography in Dresden. In 1912 he opened a photography studio in Vilnius. At the request of the city magistrate he began to photograph Vilnius’s architectural monuments. He taught a course in art photography at the University of Vilnius 1919-1939, and emigrated from Lithuania to Poland after World War II.

The exhibition is prepared by the Lithuanian National Museum in collaboration with Lithuanian Embassy in London.

Opening times: Mon - Fri 10.00 - 12.00; 14.00 - 16.00
Where: Lithuanian Embassy in London, 84 Gloucester Place, W1U 6AU
Admission: free