4:30 p.m.– 6 p.m.

Lecture by Gabriela Pelikánová. Only in Czech.

Bohuslav Reynek (1892–1971) was an exceptional figure in Czech culture who made a significant contribution to the history of not only fine art, but also literature, translation and publishing. Reynek’s work was rooted in his deep Christian faith, which was reflected in his works of poetry (published in Josef Florian’s “Good Works” imprint as well as his own “Poetry Notebooks” edition) and also in his skilfully rendered drypoints and etchings, which often accompanied his collections. His texts and graphic works were created with congenial craftsmanship and intellectual diligence. Frequent motifs in his oeuvre include sacred themes and small-scale rustic details depicting the connection between humans and the natural world around them. A powerful source of inspiration for Reynek was the farm in Petrkov (near Havlíčkův Brod) where he lived with his wife, the French poet Suzanne Renaud, and their two sons.

In recent years there has been a boom in literature exploring topics related to Reynek, mapping his life and work as well as his correspondence with other major figures in Czech culture – Josef Florian, Otokar Březina, Josef Čapek and Jiří Kolář. Another fascinating book (Who Walks Through the Darkness, 2023) presents the memoirs of his sons David and Jiří. New pieces are thus continually being added to the mosaic of Bohuslav Reynek’s life.

Booking in advance necessary  

free entrance