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Watercolor on paper. Artist's dedication lower right: “Jirkovi Šlitrovi - Beirut 62”. An illuminated, impressive watercolor excellently representing the artist's unique interpretation of Expressionism. The spontaneously executed work reflects the artist's experiences from his travels in Lebanon. Jíra studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under Karel Minář and Miloslav Holý. Following a skiing accident, he was taken under the wings of Otakar Nejedlý, staying with him for a semester before completing his studies in figurative art under Vlastimil Rada. In 1957 he obtained a studio in Prague's Letná district, where he created his characteristically dark pictures. From 1963 the Easter series forms the basis of his work. In 1971 he started to create an extensive composition from an anti-war series – Lidice. In 1992 he opened a gallery at an estate in Malá Skála, where he collected works by more than 80 Czech artists.