Lot 214

Jan Vyleťal (1940 - 2013) SMALL AND LARGE MAGELLANIC CLOUD

Jan Vyleťal created geometric and technically demanding abstract works full of imagination and mystery. His paintings are also a unique artistic expression of the artist’s close connection to astrophysics and the evolution of the cosmos. He painted consistently until the age of 65 and ceased his artistic activity five years later for health reasons. However, during this relatively short period, he created a highly coherent and remarkable body of work comprising nearly two hundred paintings. The Small and Large Magellanic Clouds are the brightest galaxies visible to the naked eye. Both galaxies are the subject of intense study for many reasons, but what is particularly interesting is their dramatically changing shape, which arises from their mutual interaction and the gravitational pull of the Milky Way.