Makunaite, Albina

Born Apr. 1, 1926, in Padainupys, in present-day Kaunas Raion. Soviet graphic artist. Honored Art Worker of the Lithuanian SSR (1965).

Makunaite studied in Kaunas under A. Kuchas and others at the Institute of Applied and Decorative Arts from 1944 to 1950. Her work, which consists primarily of prints and illustrations (some for children’s books), is influenced by folk art (including popular prints) and is characterized by epic imagery and decorative composition. Large black or colored areas predominate. The traditions of expressive wood carving are also reflected in her work.

Makunaite’s works include illustrations to A. Liobỹté’s collection of tales The Liberator of the Sun (color engraving, published in 1959), the cycles Song of the Rye (linocut, 1959-60) and Tale of the Snake (color woodcut, 1962), and illustrations for J. Marcinkevič’ius’ The Ballad of Eve (linocut, published in 1965). She was awarded the State Prize of the Lithuanian SSR in 1966.