Lot 538: KRAL Jaroslav (5. 12. 1883 Malesov near Kutna Hora

KRAL Jaroslav (5. 12. 1883 Malesov near Kutna Hora - 22. 3. 1942 Auschwitz) On pasture in the mountains Oil on cardboard, 33,5 x 41,5 cm, framed, undated, signed lower right. This painting is an example of Kral's mature style reflecting the influence of Cubism and Expressionism. Themes related to life in the country supplemented his interest in city subjects and social themes. It is probably an earlier work since towards the end of the period he arrived at a slightly different synthesis of form and used symbolic colours and sharp contrast. The dominating colours in is painting are shades of blue, brown and grey, the painting is executed in dynamic diagonal brush strokes. Czech painter, he studied under E. C. Liska, J. Preisler, A. Hofbauer and S. Sucharda at the Prague Academy of Decorative Arts and under V. Hynais at the Prague Academy of Arts. His strong social feeling brought him to subjects dealing with human activities and reflecting the relationship between man and nature. He worked for Leva fronta in Brno and the magazine Index. His work reflects the influence of Classicism aiming at simple form and a harmonious whole. Classicist tendencies in his work became even more apparent after his return from France where he became acquainted with Picasso's paintings of female figures. His interest in Cubism and its vocabulary was of later date, but it contributed to his development mainly in terms of construction and composition of his paintings. See T 1/551, V 3/109, B 6/305, NECVU 1/397.