Šárka and Ctirad

Karel Svoboda

Karel Svoboda - Šárka and Ctirad
The drawing is a study for a xylograph published in 1868 in the magazine “Květy”. From 1852, Karel Svoboda lived in Vienna and his woodcuts depicting historical subjects from Czech history represented one of his contacts with his homeland. Using relaxed, energetic lines, he composed scenes which, despite their small size, do not lack a sense of monumentality and dramatic charge. Even though their dynamic draughtsmanship was lost in the final print medium, the impressive nature of the firmly built−up compositions remained. Their content, though, was equally important. The 1860s were a period when the iconography of subject matter related to Czech history was being defined and drawings in illustrated magazines played an especially important role in that process. Svoboda’s treatment of themes from the Hussite period was favourably received by the general public, while also becoming a major source of inspiration for young artists, such as Mikoláš Aleš and Václav Brožík.
date:
measurements: height 202 mm
width 252 mm
in collections:
material: paper
technique: pencil
inventory number: K 4185
gallery collection: Collection of Prints and Drawings