Lot 136

Jiří Trnka (1912 - 1969) THE FIREBIRD AND THE FOX

Illustrations for the Erben's fairy tales by Jiri Trnka, an all-around artist who is known as an excellent painter, graphic artist, sculptor and book illustrator (Misa Kulicka/Misha the Bear 1939, Broučci/Fireflies 1941, Český Betlém/Czech Nativity Scene 1943, Pohádky tisíce a jedné noci/Stories from One Thousand One Nights 1956, Pohádky Hanse Christiana Andersena/The Tales of Hans Christian Andersen, Pohádky bratří Grimmů/Grimms' Fairy Tales 1961, Staré pověsti české/Ancient Czech Legends, Jan Werich's Fimfárum, etc.). He wrote and illustrated the book Zahrada (The Garden, 1962), which was later adapted for film. Trnka was a founding father of Czech puppetry and puppet film, which earned him worldwide acclaim.