M. FORD CREECH ANTIQUES

ANTONIN PROCHAZKA
(Czechoslovakian, 1882-1945)

”Village Street in Sun”
oil on canvas
signed "A Prochazka" (lower left)

in 22K giltwood frame

Biographical Note:
Prochazka was one of a group of artists who were deeply influenced by Cubism.

He joined the Group of Plastic Artists in 1911, laying the foundation for an important center of Cubism in Central Europe.

Image size: 22 ¾” x 26 ¼”

Framed size: 31 ¾” x  35 ¼”
 

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Antonin Prochazka was born on June 5, 1882, at Vazany, Moravia. He studied 1902-1904 at the 'School for Industrial Art' and in

1904-1905, at the Academy of Prague, after which he traveled Germany, Belgium, France and Italy to study.  He was the pupil of

Schwaiger.  In 1904, with the writer Jiri Karásek, founded the illustrated magazine Moderni Revue. The illustrated magazine stood dominated

by the symbolism, but was also open to the different movements and foreign influences – especially Viennese expressionism, Parisian cubism,

and surrealism  In 1908, joined the artist group OSMA, with artists Emil Filla and Bohumil Kubista.  This group strove for a dramatic

portrayal of the world in a more expressionist style.

In 1911, Procházka joined the Skupina Vytuarnych Umélcû, the Group of Plastic Artists. Other members included Filla, Benes, Capek, Sima,

Gutfreund as well as several architects. This group laid the foundation for Cubism in Central Eurpoe. From 1922 to 1924, Procházka stayed

in Paris, later marrying the artist Linka Procházkova. On June 9, 1945, he died at Brno.

Procházka was very influenced by the works of Van Gogh, the fauvists and the cubists. His stylized provocative works escalated the popular

status of Czech art in the early part of the 20th century. Inspired by Expressionism, French Fauvism, along with the works of Edward Munch,

Prochazka developed a unique style that suggested a strong familiarity with cubist principles, Ohne (1922). His cubist paintings use rich color

to achieve a sense of balance and calm -- a proof by counterexample that Cubism need not be agitated and kinetic.

These were times when Czechs moved to convey their impact, ideas and influences to the world. Through Prochazka's adaptation of the

Neo-Classicist style he was able to further his already substantial influence upon the global art community. His art flourished during inter-war

times when artists around Europe had creative freedom that encompassed the whole spectrum of tolerance and originality. Prochazka was a

key innovator because his perspectives were considered complementary yet progressive in comparison to the other renown producers of

art throughout Europe.