Lot 149

Cyril Bouda (1901 - 1984) LANDSCAPE WITH POPLARS

A scenic landscape of a valley with poplars in the background on the right demonstrates Bouda’s fundamental relationship to the graphic arts. When looking at this rather small, panorama-format painting the eye is attracted to the rhytmically repeating upright verticals of poplars with skilfully indicated grey tree bark. Thick paste clouds are floating above landscape and somewhere in the background we may discover a small village. 

Cyril Bouda was important not only for his extensive oeuvre of paintings and prints, but also for his work as an art instructor. In 1923 he underwent training under František Kysela at the School of Applied Arts in Prague, transferring to Prague’s Academy of Fine Arts to graduate as a student of Max Švabinský. He was a professor at Charles University’s Faculty of Education in 1946–1972, where he initially taught fine graphic art (drypoint, color etching, lithography) and painting. Throughout his life he illustrated books, especially fairy tales, Czech legends, humorous and historical novels [including František Langer’s Pražské legendy (Legends of Prague), Václav Cibula’s Staré pověsti pražské (Old Legends of Prague), and Kocourkov]. His illustrations have also been used in animated films (e.g., Hrnečku, vař!, 1953). A master of many different printmaking techniques, including wood and copper engraving, etching, and especially lithography, Bouda also designed Czechoslovak postage stamps and created stained glass designs (in the  northern nave of St. Vitus Cathedral by the Hilbert treasury and at St. Wenceslas Chapel in Mcely).