Lot 116

Josef Váchal (1884 - 1969) CHAPEL

Josef Váchal's imagery grew out of anxiety states, fear of the unknown and diary entries of nocturnal visual and auditory hallucinations. He wandered the countryside and found hidden stories, apparitions, occult phenomena in it. In particular, he explored the surroundings of Šumava with almost fanatical passion and described his experiences with astonishment, joy and horror. A painter, graphic artist, illustrator, sculptor and also a poet, he stood out as an original creator especially in the color woodcut technique, with which he impressed at foreign exhibitions, in Cologne or Florence. He trained as a librarian and attended a private school with Antonín Kalvoda. He lived most of his life in seclusion and poverty, always fearlessly forging his own path regardless of the ridicule and scorn of art critics.