Famous Czech Artists

Czech artist Vaclav Brozik was the most famous Czech painter of the late 19th century. He is the best-known representative of the Czech historicism style. He created artworks that addressed the important moments of Czech history. His artworks often depict significant historical events and figures, reflecting Czech national identity.

Czech artist, writer, photographer, graphic designer, and illustrator Josef Capek was the elder brother of the writer Karel Capek. He was a painter of the Cubist school and collaborated with his brother Karel on plays and short stories. He wrote the utopian play “Land of Many Names” and several novels. He was named by his brother as the true inventor of the term "robot."

Czech artist Frantisek Kupka was the first artist in the world to publicly exhibit abstract art. He initially trained as a decorative painter and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague. Kupka was a pioneer and co-founder of the early phases of the abstract art movement and Orphic Cubism. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and later at the Ecole des Beaux Arts with Jean-Pierre Laurens. The artist was a founding member of Abstraction-Creation, and his artwork was included in the exhibition Cubism and Abstract Art at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.

Czech artist Josef Lada is among the best-loved Czech painters. He is best known for his children’s book illustrations as well as for his landscape and village paintings. He often depicts rural life, folklore, and traditional Czech themes. He is praised for his illustrations for the book “The Good Soldier Sveik” by Jaroslav Hasek.

Czech artist, illustrator, and graphic artist Alfons Maria Mucha is best known for his Art Nouveau paintings and graphics. He created the famous "Slav Epic," a series of large canvases depicting the history of the Slavic people. During the Art Nouveau period, he lived in Paris and became known for his theatrical posters, particularly those of French stage actress Sarah Bernhardt.

Czech artist Jakub Schikaneder is considered to be among the most important Czech painters of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. From an early age he studied at the Academy of Fine Arts. He is best known for his melancholic paintings of Prague in the evening and at dusk. The melancholy and moody themes of his artwork bear resemblance to the artistic trends of Romanticism, Realism, and Symbolism. He participated in the decorating of the National Theater in Prague. After serving a year in the Austro-Hungarian Army, the artist went to Paris and was inspired by the late 19th-century Parisian art scene. He continued his studies at the academy in Munich under Czech artist Gabriel von Max.

Czech artist Antonin Slavicek is considered one of the founding fathers of Czech modern art. The artist is a leading representative of Czech landscape painting. He had a distinct artistic style, mastering light and shadow. He studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague and was influenced by French Impressionists and the Czech plein air movement.

Czech artist, drafter, and illustrator Toyen was considered unconventional for a woman of her time. She favored a gender-neutral pseudonym over her birth name. She was a member of the surrealist art movement. The artist portrayed themes of violence and sexuality in her artworks. Toyen joined the Czech avant-garde Devětsil group and exhibited with them. She joined several avant-garde artistic movements. Toyen and Styrsky joined in founding the Czech Surrealist Group. Toyen was admired for her surrealistic artwork.

Czech artist, illustrator, and scenographer Jan Zrzavy was a leading representative of the Czech avant-garde. The artist was a key member of the Czech and European modernism movement in the early part of the 20th century. Zrzavy was considered to be a symbolist, but he was heavily influenced by European medieval art. Through his travels around Europe, he was inspired by amazing landscapes in countries like France, Greece, and Italy.