Saint Hubertus Series
Three paintings done on glass by Alex Kedlec in 2003 lay out the journey of St. Hubertus, the patron saint of hunting, in Janohrad and show the importance of him in the Czech Republic.
PORTRAIT OF TOMÁŠ GARRIGUE MASARYK
Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk, sometimes also called Thomas Masaryk, was a Czech politician, statesman, sociologist, and philosopher. Find out more about Czechoslovakia’s founder here.
LANDSCAPE OF PRAGUE CASTLE - HIDING A STORY OF NAZI HATRED
Prague Castle is a castle complex in Prague, Czech Republic, dating from the 9th century. During the Nazi occupation of Czechoslovakia in World War II, Prague Castle became the headquarters of Reinhard Heydrich, the Reich Protector of Bohemia and Moravia. According to a popular rumor, he is said to have placed the Bohemian crown on his head; old legends say a usurper who places the crown on his head is doomed to die within a year.
POSTER OF ALFONS MUCHA SERIES
Alfons Maria Mucha, known as Alphonse Mucha, was a Czech painter, illustrator and graphic artist, living in Paris during the Art Nouveau period, best known for his distinctly stylized and decorative theatrical posters of Sarah Bernhardt. Find out more about his poster series and the story of our collection.
Kamil Kubik was born in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, in 1930. He defected in 1948 due to communist oppression and takeover of the country. As an artist, he was known for street scenes, cityscapes, and flowers. He often painted outdoors and in nature. He became the official artist for the White House during the term of George H.W. Bush, and his paintings were featured on the White House Christmas cards in 1991 and 1992.
Born in 1928, Petr Ginz grew up in a Jewish household to half-Jewish parents. At a young age, Petr attended a Jewish school in Prague. During his time in school, Petr became enriched by the novels of Jules Verne. Later, Petr will be inspired to write his own stories and illustrate them.
Josef Lada created a variety of caricaturistic paintings in which he often portrayed the four seasons of the year. Lada’s work primarily consists of bold lines and his constant use of primary colors and secondary colors. The artist's color choices provide a tranquil and peaceful setting to each painting accurately, providing a sense of each season.
Jiri Grabavcic painted both Praotec Čech – Čech on Mountain and Saints Cyril and Methodius in 2002. Both of Grabavcic’s paintings imitate paintings of the Counter-Reformation era, which typically centered religious figures or traditions as their subject and depicted them in a naturalistic way.
Apotheosis of Rudolph II
This etching of Rudolph II, Holy Roman Emperor and King of Bohemia from 1572 to 1611, was produced in 1989 by Oldřich Kulhánek. Kulhánek, a Czech artist and graphic designer, is most famous for his etchings on Czech banknotes and stamps. Like this piece, titled Apotheosis of Rudolph II, they use minimal color and prominent lines.
Emma Srncová: Romance of Prague
"Romance of Prague" series by Emma Srncová, a Prague-born artist whose surrealistic style subtly defied the strict art policies of communist Czechoslovakia. Initially an actress, she transitioned to painting in 1980, ultimately exhibiting her captivating works globally before focusing exclusively on the Czech Republic.
‘The Merchant of Venice’
This 19th-century painting of a scene from Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice," attributed to Austrian artist Franz Haller, exemplifies romantic realism with vivid colors and graceful shapes. This piece was hidden during the Nazi occupation, it remained safe from looting.