Merry-go-round & 7 figures Mural Forms /Original Black-White Lithograph Signed 1964 / Miroslav HOURA (1933–2006)
The subject matter is the every day and symbols of the everyday as carousel. The impelling motive of the black-white lithograph seems to be the emotional power of the carousel symbol. The instant shows a symbolic round moving of the carousel. The spiritual content created by an artist’s originality in his using the language of mural painting for lithography showing his attempt to change the revolutionary tradition of pictures in the period of domination of socialist realism in the art. The form of art is an applied graphic as a gratulation with New Year 1964. It is a double-folded paper which was sent per post to the editor of the magazine «Culture Creating». There are two stamps.
Dimensiones (in mm / inches):
The image size is ca.160 x 165 x 325 / 6,3 x 6,5 x 12,8
Condition:
In general, it is possible to appreciate the lithograph as good for the whole work of art and perfect nearing the ideal for its image. It means that there are no visible defects such as unsuitable writings or printings, pinholes, creases and bends or shabbiness. The artwork is pencil signed and dated by the author.
Artist’s short biography: The Bohemian-born academical representative of mural art in Bohemia Miroslav HOURA (1933–2006) is best known as the author of the largest mosaic work in Europe in Ústí nad Labem with a place of 450 m2 which was finished in the year 1985. He graduated from the Prague School of Arts, Architecture and Design (1948-1952) before attending the Pedagogical department of Charles University where he was a disciple of the first range Czech engravers such as Cyril Bouda, Karl Lidicky, Martin Salcman who were his professors. He arrived in North Czech in the year 1955 to work as a professor of the Pedagogical Department of the University in the small provincial town Ústí nad Labem. Since 1967 he belongs to the Hollar Association of Czech Graphic Artists, whose members were and are professional artists of the highest calibre. He was a member of the artist group Object and other groups of Czech artists. In 1983 he was named a Merited Artist and in 1987 received Klement Gottwald’s Prize.
In his work, Miroslav Houra is dealing with the motives of an active man with his elemental ties with family, home, labour and nature. Graphic art especially wood engraving and a linocut lies in the ground of his work which includes painting, drawing and mural art for the architecture (mosaics, woodcuts, railings, stained-glass windows, woven and unwoven tapestry), illustrations and publicists. He opted unambiguously for the mural depiction of life. He strove from the start to express content through forms which were characteristic for a mural work of art.