Lot 130

Josef Mařatka (1874 - 1937) A KISS

Josef Mařatka created the first variant of the sculpture with the theme of Kiss in 1909. This was followed by the variants There was May 1, Wave and Ursus and Lygia from the same year. In all the mentioned sculptures the relationship between two tightly closed figures is elaborated. Maratka in these chamber sculptures was based on the impressionist method of modeling acquired during his stay in the studio of August Rodin. The theme of the embracing couple was worked out by Rodin himself several times. Despite the fact that during the 1920s Mařatka's work was directed towards a realistic way of understanding the sculpture, in 1921 he created a monument to the Kiss for Letenské sady on the basis of these sculptures. The architecture of the pedestal was designed by Jan Kotěra. The sculpture Polibek was originally located in Letenské sady. In 1945 it was moved to Petřín to Růžový sad.

Published:

Masaryková, Anna: Josef Mařatka, SNKLHU, Prague 1957. pp. 42, 82

Pečírka, Jaroslav: Josef Mařatka, SVU Mánes, Melantrich, Prague 1942, no pages.

Siblík, Emanuel: Josef Mařatka, Jan Štenc, Prague 1935. pp. 24, 90