Othello and Desdemona

A special chapter in Navrátil's work are oil paintings and murals (e.g. at the Michalovic, today Vávra house in Prague) with motifs from the life of the theatre. Návrátil was possibly fascinated less by the plays themselves than by the theatre's colourful atmosphere and mood created by light. With a light touch and brilliant brushwork he made small sketches with scenes from the theatre, which confirm his masterly handling of colours. Theatrical illusion and sensual adventures are enhanced by the balance between pastose colours, used to create the structures of materials, stage-like lighting and sketchily simply concept.