Czech graphics of the 1970s

In the 1970s I remember a great deal of interest in the west in writers behind the iron curtain, but almost none in artists. It was just assumed that all artists in the Eastern bloc were producing soulless socialist realism or figurative kitsch. So it has been fascinating for me to acquire work by what seems a representative sample of Czech printmakers from that decade, all published in the Danish art revue International Grafik, edited between 1969 and 1980 by Helmer Fogedgaard and Klaus Rödel. International Grafik was an altruistic labour of love. It published almost exclusively woodcuts, wood engravings, and linocuts, printed from the original blocks or plates, in a numbered edition of 1000 copies. No doubt many important artists are unrepresented in its pages, especially those who specialized in etching and engraving, but there are enough artists here to at least get a flavour of the currents of Czech art at this time. All of the Czech artists contributing to International grafic were doing so from inside the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic.

International Grafik no. 30, 1980

(This was the final issue, entirely devoted to the Czech artist Miroslav Matous)

The first surprise is that in the decade after the brutal suppression of the Prague Spring in 1968, Czech artists were not retreating into safe figurative images on socialist themes, but were instead diving headfirst into experiment and abstraction. These are not cowed voices, but confident and progressive ones. Maybe in the period of “normalization” that followed the overthrow of Alexander Dubček’s reformist government there were too many other people to police, and the graphic artists somehow operated under the radar of government surveillance. I’d be very interested to hear from anyone with memories of the cultural atmosphere of this time.

Jaroslav Vodrázka, Wood engraving

International Grafik 17, 1973

Jaroslav Vodrázka, 3-colour linocut

International Grafik 17, 1973

The graphic artist Jaroslav Vodrázka  was born in Prague in 1894. He studied at the School of Applied Art, and then at the Academy of Visual Arts under Max Svabinsky. Jaroslav Vodrázka himself became a professor of graphics. He produced wood engravings, linocuts, etchings, engravings, and lithographs, and was always interested in exploring new printmaking techniques, using materials such as plastic and plexiglass. Although he lived until 1984, Vodrázka remained rooted in figurative art, creating images of peasants, landscapes, and religious scenes.

Jaroslav Sváb, Achse

Linocut

International Grafik 6, 1970

Jaroslav Sváb, Grafik

Two-colour linocut

International Grafik 6, 1970

Jaroslav Sváb was born in Hodonin in 1906. His work veers from severe geometric abstraction to curvaceous Art Nouveau-influenced patterns based on organic forms, including the human body. Sváb is known for his linocuts and wood engravings, including engraved bookplates, and also as a designer of dust jackets for books. He died in Prague in 1999.

Josef Weiser, Frühling

Linocut

International Grafik 20, 1973

Josef Weiser, Linocut, 1971

International Grafik 20, 1973

The graphic artist, art teacher, and art theorist Josef Weiser was born in Switzerland in 1914, but moved with his parents to Moravia during WWI. In 1933 he became a teacher, and from 1950-1958 was a professor of art education in the teacher training college in Olomouc. Subsequently he became head of art teaching at the institute of advanced education for teachers in Olomouc. Besides his original graphics, Josef Weiser is also known for his bookplates. Weiser, too, remained a figurative artist; in the linocuts published by International Grafik, the predominant motif is that of a rather idealised young woman. He died in 1994.

Olga Cechová, Die weisse Figur

Woodcut

International Grafik18, 1973

Olga Cechová, Die schwarze Figur

Woodcut

International Grafik 18, 1973

The graphic artist Olga Čechová was born in 1925. She studied at the school of applied art in Brno from 1941-1944 and at the high school of applied art in Prague from 1945-1950. Here she was invited join the exclusive society of Czech graphic artists, Hollar. Olga Čechová was also a member of the avant-garde group Trasa. Her boldly expressionistic woodcuts seem to me to have a strong feminist message.

Ladislav Rusek. Linocut, 1969

International Grafik 4, 1969

Ladislav Rusek, Linocut, 1965

International Grafik 4, 1969

Ladislav Rusek, Scherzo

Linocut

International Grafik 21, 1974

The printmaker Ladislav Rusek was born in Olomouc in 1927. He studied at the university, where he was eventually to be made Professor of Graphics. Ladislav Rusek was particularly fond of the linocut, though he also produced wood engravings and etchings. His work was influenced by Jugendstil. Rusek is particularly known as an engraver of ex libris. His engravings tend towards abstraction while retaining symbolic forms and human figures.

Dusan Janousek, Wood engraving

International Grafik 3, 1969

Dusan Janousek, Wood engraving

International Grafik 3, 1969

Dusan Janousek was born in 1928 in Prostejov. He studied at the school of applied art in Brno and at the Komensky University in Bratislava. He taught graphics at the Palacky University in Olomouc. His white line engravings are either human figures verging on abstraction, or completely abstract.

Miroslav Houra, Prometheus

Linocut

International Grafik 18, 1973

Miroslav Houra, Kosmos

Linocut

International Grafik 18, 1973

Miroslav Houra, Charon

Linocut

International Grafik 18, 1983

The painter and printmaker Miroslav Houra was born in 1933 in Krhanice upon Sázava. He studied at the school of applied art in Prague, and at the Karl University in Prague. He taught in the teacher training faculty at the university in Ustinad Labem. Miroslav Houra was a member of the artists' associations Okjekt and Hollar. He had his first solo show in 1960, and later exhibited in many international exhibitions. Miroslav Houra's colour linocuts are both technically and aesthetically remarkable. Of course they appeal to me because of the way they use mythology to explore cosmic truth.

Ratislav Michal, Wood engraving

International Grafik 15, 1972

Ratislav Michal, Wood engraving

International Grafik 15, 1972

The painter, graphic artist, and designer of bookplates Ratislav Michal was born in 1936. He studied at the Academy of Pictorial Arts in Prague, graduating in 1961. Ratislav Michal had his first solo exhibition in 1964. He is known especially for his wood engravings of the female nude.

Jana Krejcová, Bei Prachatice II

Linocut

International Grafik 23, 1974

Jana Krejcová, Edelmannpalast, Olomouc

Linocut

International Grafik 23, 1974

Jana Krejčová was born in Bruntál in Nordmähren in 1946. She trained in painting and graphics at the art school in Olomouc. She remained in Olomouc, working as a technical editor at the Palacky University, and creating linocuts inspired by the architecture of the town and by Czech folk art. Jana Krejčová is also renowned as a designer of bookplates.

Miroslav Matous, Linocut

International Grafik 30, 1980

Miroslav Matous, Linocut

International Grafik 30, 1980

Lastly, Miroslav Matous was born in Zdárky in eastern Bohemia in 1920. Known as painter, printmaker, tapestry designer and architect, Miroslav Matous attended the Mánes School for painting, studying under Vladimír Sychra. As a printmaker, Miroslav Matous is known for lithographs, drypoints, etchings, linocuts, and woodcuts. From the evidence of these prints, the 1960s had definitely arrived in Czechoslovakia by 1980!