Lot 139

František Drtikol (1883 - 1961) RESTING IN A GARDEN

"I write into people’s souls with the light of knowledge." František Drtikol initially devoted himself to photography and became a pioneer of the nude, being the very first to exhibit such works publicly. Drtikol’s artistic journey, much like his mystical path, is a cycle of returning to the inner self. He wanted to be a painter, but under pressure from his father, he became a photographer, only to abandon photography at age 52 and return to painting. Painting brought him joy; he gave his works to friends and rarely explained them. He left people enough space to discover their essence. His work often drew from his mystical experiences, during which he studied Eastern teachings and meditated. Much like souls on a journey toward enlightenment, his compositions are ethereal, full of human freedom, embodied in female figures walking through nature or resting peacefully, unburdened by the weight of material existence.