Lot 162

Vincenc Vingler (1911 - 1981) A MONKEY

Vincenc Vingler, a sculptor, ceramicist, and designer who represented Czechoslovakia on numerous occasions at international exhibitions and became famous for his outdoor sculptures at the Prague Zoo, maintained a certain distance from prevailing artistic trends throughout his life. His departure from traditional figurative sculpture is perfectly captured in the range of his work, which is recognizable for its minimalism, through which he reached the very threshold of abstract expression. He was interested in animal psychology, their movements, and characteristic gestures; he excelled in his sense of material and delicate craftsmanship, through which he was able to express the very soul of the animal. Monkeys were Vingler’s favorite motif, to which he returned throughout his life's work.