oil, cardboard, 63×47 cm
purchased in 2019 with support from the Czech Republic Ministry of Culture
Closely associated with his native region of Silesia, Držkovic acquired a knowledge of contemporary painting from several sources: he studied in Vienna (1912–1920) and in the German city of Karlsruhe (1920–1921). His time in Karlsruhe studying at Hans Bühler’s studio inspired his symbolist compositions, mystical themes and meditative approach. Both periods of study influenced his Romantic and symbolist religious paintings with landscape elements drawing on traditionalist academic models. Valentin Držkovic was a spontaneous, free-spirited painter who inclined towards sensual depictions of pure landscapes, conveying the genius loci and the distinctive mood of a particular place – as can be seen in his canvases treating ostensibly dull themes, such as Barns near the Village. The quality of his works is accentuated by his strong colour modelling using thickly applied paint and combining a realistic vision of the world with a striking artistic brevity.