This event has been ended!
Výsek, výřez, detail. Fotografie uměleckých děl v meziválečném Československu
Section, cutout, detail. Photographs of works of art in interwar Czechoslovakia
Event by: Ústav dějin umění Akademie věd ČR, v. v. i.
Location: Ústav dějin umění AV ČR, v. v. i. | Institue of Art History, Czech Academy of Sciences, Husova 4, Praha 1
About event
We cordially invite you to the opening of the exhibition Vysek, cut-out, detail. Photographs of works of art in interwar Czechoslovakia in the Window Gallery.
The opening will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 6 p.m. in the courtyard of the Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (entrance from Na Perštýně street).
Exhibition curator: Hana Buddeus
The works of art, art historical texts and photographs that illustrate them are influenced by the context of the time for which they were created. Surviving photographs and published reproductions of works of art from the interwar period show an unusual attention to detail at that time. On selected examples, the exhibition will show that the motivation for using the detail could have been different. As illustrated by Bohuslav Slánský's text and photographs of medieval panel portraits attributed to Master Theodoric, reproduced in Volné směrých in 1935, one of the purposes behind orders for enlarged photographic details of works of art was, for example, planned restoration interventions. According to the editor-in-chief of Volných směrů Emil Filla and his manifesto article The work of the eye, behind the frequent use of photographic detail was also an effort to change the viewing habits of the audience. This intention materialized in the magazine thanks to long-term cooperation with photographer Josef Sudek. Examples from the photographic campaigns led by Jana Štence's company or the Documenta Bohemia Artis Phototypica project by Karel Šourek, Alexander Paul and František Illek are proof that photographic detail was also used to display the structure and texture of the work, to bring the otherwise distant works closer or for comparison purposes.
The opening will take place on Wednesday, May 27, 2026 from 6 p.m. in the courtyard of the Institute of Art History of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic (entrance from Na Perštýně street).
Exhibition curator: Hana Buddeus
The works of art, art historical texts and photographs that illustrate them are influenced by the context of the time for which they were created. Surviving photographs and published reproductions of works of art from the interwar period show an unusual attention to detail at that time. On selected examples, the exhibition will show that the motivation for using the detail could have been different. As illustrated by Bohuslav Slánský's text and photographs of medieval panel portraits attributed to Master Theodoric, reproduced in Volné směrých in 1935, one of the purposes behind orders for enlarged photographic details of works of art was, for example, planned restoration interventions. According to the editor-in-chief of Volných směrů Emil Filla and his manifesto article The work of the eye, behind the frequent use of photographic detail was also an effort to change the viewing habits of the audience. This intention materialized in the magazine thanks to long-term cooperation with photographer Josef Sudek. Examples from the photographic campaigns led by Jana Štence's company or the Documenta Bohemia Artis Phototypica project by Karel Šourek, Alexander Paul and František Illek are proof that photographic detail was also used to display the structure and texture of the work, to bring the otherwise distant works closer or for comparison purposes.