A Young Breton

Since 1869 Čermák was a regular visitor of Brittany, where he found a small and as yet little-known fishermen’s village Roscoff near Marlaix. Čermák often spoke of the wild shore, of which he became so fond that he built there a house and studio, where he lived and worked from spring till autumn. He made many friends among the Bretons, especially thanks to his democratic ideas. With his boat he used to bring from Victor Hugo’s Jersey exile the poet’s proclamations to the French, thus helping the struggle against Napoleon III. In his very first year at Roscoff Čermák painted this portrait of a Breton fisherman, very effective in treatment and colour.