Anna Zemánková (1908-1986)
Since
the Middle Ages the Czech Lands have been a center of the occult. From the southern
most regions of Moravia to the northern peaks of the Giant Mountains, the paranormal
has permeated the three major cultures-Czech, Jewish and German-at all levels
of society. Emperor Rudolf II 's Hapsburg court was rife with magicians, alchemists
and astrologers. Fascinated with the dark side of life, Bohemian Prague was home
to both Dr. Faust, who rode the winged Mephistopheles into the underworld, and
the Golem, the monster who roamed the streets of the ghetto in a terrible rage.
Anna Vesela was born near Olomouc in Moravia into a family of
tradesmen. In a region still believed to be home to wood fairies, folklore and
traditional culture were very strong. Instructed in extensive needlework techniques,
historic costume, music and dance, as well as a rigorous academic program, she
earned a degree in dentistry. In 1948, the year the Communists took control,
the newly married Anna Zemánková moved to Prague, where her life
was one of wife, mother, and home. Around 1960 she mysteriously began to make
large surreal drawings.
Driven
by an "uncontrollable force" Zemánková created ethereal,
biomorphic renderings that, like a spider's web, draw us in with their delicate
beauty, then unexpectedly frighten us. Much of the artwork on view here is,
in its fluidity, strikingly related to the automatic drawings made by mediums
in the Spiritualist Community of Nová Paka, yet they paradoxically demonstrate
deliberate effort. Dexterous, Zemánková not only drew, but also
manipulated the paper by crimping it, and embellishing it with embroidery, crochet,
and appliqué. Beyond works on paper, she made hats, purses, and home
furnishings such as pillows and lampshades and her masterwork, a room divider.
Click Images to Enlarge
RIGHT:
untitled
mixed media on manipulated paper
Collection of the International Folk Art Foundation
LEFT:
Untitled, 1960's
Oil pastel on paper
Museum of International Folk Art
A unit of Museum of New Mexico
Gift of Thomas Isenberg
Carlo
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Since
the Middle Ages the Czech Lands have been a center of the occult. From the southern
most regions of Moravia to the northern peaks of the Giant Mountains, the paranormal
has permeated the three major cultures-Czech, Jewish and German-at all levels
of society. Emperor Rudolf II 's Hapsburg court was rife with magicians, alchemists
and astrologers. Fascinated with the dark side of life, Bohemian Prague was home
to both Dr. Faust, who rode the winged Mephistopheles into the underworld, and
the Golem, the monster who roamed the streets of the ghetto in a terrible rage.
