The Czech painter, illustrator, graphic artist and scenographer Jan Zrzavý was born in Okrouhlice near Havlíčkův Brod on 5th November 1890 († 12th October 1977). He attended several high schools but eventually, against his father’s will, he decided to study painting.
Jan also had literary ambitions and even had thoughts about becoming an actor, but remained devoted to his painting. When he was refused a place at the School of Decorative Arts in Prague, he began to attend private courses with Karel Reisner, Vladimír Županovský and finally with František Ženíšek junior. He was later admitted to the School of Decorative Arts but expelled after two years. His works were influenced by Julius Zeyer and he came friendly with the painter Bohumil Kubišta and other artists. However, it was discovering new landscapes that attracted and inspired him, prompting him to visit France, Italy and Greece and he often liked to return there. He was incredibly fascinated by Paris as well as by the work of Leonardo da Vinci. He also liked Czech landscapes and painted his home Okrouhlice as well as Prague. In 1931, he designed his first scenic setting for W. A. Mozart’s opera Idomeneus at the National Theatre in Prague. In 1966, he was named as a National Artist for life and became a member of several artistic associations (Sursum, Umělecká beseda and others). Typical for him was his original work with its symbolic colours, similar to medieval art. Jan’s early work was influenced by fading Art Nouveau symbolism and neo-romanticism. His work contains elements of symbolism, decadence and art nouveau. However, expressionism and cubism remained closest to him.
Marie Kulinkovská
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Váš záznam bude z databáze Vydavatelstvím KAM po Česku s.r.o. vymazán neprodleně, nejpozději však v zákonné lhůtě.
