1833-1961

Frantisek Drtikol became an acclaimed portraitist in Prague during the early decades of the twentieth century, following his studies in Munich.  This success enabled him to develop the work for which he is known — stylized nude studies that employ contrasting geometric sets and props and refer to Bauhaus aesthetics, many of which were published in the now-classic book Zena ve Svetle (1930).  Drtikol maintained an interest in Theosophy, Buddhism and Anthroposophy, which taught that through the limb’s movement we absorb the world’s movement, manifesting our spirit.  Drtikol gave up photography completely in 1935 to pursue painting, meditation and Oriental philosophy.  The first exhibition of his work was held in 1972.