Course detail

Czech Art Between 1900–1945 in Contexts

FaVU-1CU20st-ZAcad. year: 2022/2023

The course introduces various topics from the visual arts, design and visual culture between 1900 to 1945. The lectures present programs and manifestos, collaboration and artistic collectives, institutional background of the art scenes (academies, galleries, state, criticism) and the relations to the means of production and social matrix. The course presents both progressive and revolutionary actions and avant-gardes of the 20th Century as well as survivals and revivals of the past anachronic forms. The history of the Modern Art is presented in context of political, social and economic conditions to the artistic work.
The course will be taught in the winter semester in a distant way via MS Teams.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Learning outcomes of the course unit

Students will have a basic overview of artistic institutions, key figures and their work; they will be able to attribute key artistic works and they will be able to characterize artistic programs and groups of Czech modernism between 1900 to 1945.

Prerequisites

Basic knowledge of the history of the Czech lands and their culture.

Co-requisites

Not applicable.

Planned learning activities and teaching methods

Lectures accompanied with slides of reproductions of the key works are supported with class discussions.

Assesment methods and criteria linked to learning outcomes

Test.

Course curriculum

1. Institutions and organisations: Mánes, AAAD, Academy and Modern Gallery
2. Osma and expressionism 1907–1908
3. Skupina and cubism 1910–1914, SURSUM
4. Architecture and Design I.: Kotěra and Spolek posluchačů architektury; Artěl and Pražské umělecké dílny
5. Sculpture: Jan Štursa, Otto Gutfreund, Jaroslav Horejc
6. National Style and The Exposition of the Decorative Arts in Paris, academism as propaganda
7. Tvrdošíjní, Devětsil, Štyrský, Toyen and Czech surrealism
8. Architecture and Design II.: Klub architektů and the year 1925, interior and serial production of design
9. Civilized Woman: Women-artists and women-designers
10. Modern photography: Drtikol, Sudek, Rössler, Funke, Wiškowský, Koblic
11. Gaps in the history: Art of the Czech Germans
12. The World We Live In: Skupina 42

Work placements

Not applicable.

Aims

The aim is to present major figures, artistic works, artistic groups, programs and institutions of Czech modern art between 1900 to 1945, to present contemporary way of thinking and characterize contemporary texts and manifestos.

Specification of controlled education, way of implementation and compensation for absences

Attendance obligatory.

Recommended optional programme components

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

Lahoda, V. (ed.), Dějiny českého výtvarného umění 1890-1938. Praha 1998 (2 díly) (CS)
Ševčík J.; Morganová P.; Dušková D. (eds.), České umění 1938-1989, programy, kritické texty, dokumenty, Praha 2001 (CS)
Švácha, R.; Platovská, M. (eds.): Dějiny českého výtvarného umění 1939-1958. Praha 2005 (1 díl) (CS)
Larvová, H. (ed.), Sursum 1910-1912, Praha 1996 (CS)
Lamač, M., Osma a Skupina výtvarných umělců, Praha 1988 (CS)
Rousová, H., Český neoklasicismus 20. let I. a II. díl, Praha 1985, 1989 (CS)
Lahoda, V., Emil Filla, Praha 2007 (CS)
Švestka, J. (ed.), Český kubismus 1909-1925, Stuttgart 1991 (CS)
Rakušanová, M., Bytosti odnikud, Academia 2008 (CS)
Hubatová-Vacková, L.; Pachmanová, M.; Pečinková, P. (eds.), Věci a slova: umělecký průmysl, užité umění a design v české teorii a kritice 1870-1970. Praha 2014. (CS)
Rousová, H., Abstrakce: Čechy mezi centry modernity 1918-1950: nejen o vztazích volného a užitého umění. Řevnice a Praha 2015 (CS)
Rousová, H. (ed.), Konec avantgardy? Od mnichovské dohody ke komunistickému převratu. Řevnice a Praha 2011 (CS)
Rousová, H. Mezery v historii 1890-1938: polemický duch střední Evropy: Němci, Židé, Češi. Praha 1994 (CS)
Sawicki, N. Na cestě k modernosti. Umělecké sdružení Osma a jeho okruh v letech 1900–1910. Praha 2014 (CS)
Klimešová, M., Věci umění, věci doby - Skupina 42, Praha 2011 (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme IT-BC-3 Bachelor's

    branch BIT , 1. year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme BIT Bachelor's, 1. year of study, winter semester, elective
  • Programme BIT Bachelor's, 1. year of study, winter semester, elective

  • Programme VUB Bachelor's

    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-D , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-VT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory
    branch VU-IDT , 3. year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

26 hours, optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Czech art after the beginning of the 20th century, generation after impressionism and before expressionism.
2. Expressive, cubist-expressive, cubist, symbolist tendencies, artist grous - Osma, Skupina výtvarných umělců, Sursum, Umělecká Beseda.
3. Reconstitution of the art scene after WWI. Tvrdošíjní Group.
4. Styles and movements in the 1920s Neo-classicism, poetism, Devětsil, artificialism, landscape painting, official scene.
5. Styles and movements of the 1930s. Abstraction, surrealism.
6. Czech sculpture of the first half of the 20th century.