A Glimpse of Czech Craftsmanship at the Christmas Markets

Czech people have long been known for their quality work and attention to detail. The Czech Republic is home to famous artists such as Alphonse Mucha, Antonín Dvořák, and Božena Němcová, all of whom are remembered for their talent as well as the high quality of their work. This high quality, however, is not limited...

CULTURE, Holidays

October 28, 2018

Czech America in the Struggle for Independent Czechoslovakia

As we commemorate the 100th anniversary of the independence of Czechs and Slovaks from the Austro-Hungarian oppression and the foundation of Czechoslovakia on October 28, 1918, we should also remember the role the Czech Americans played on behalf of their homeland. This is why we are thankful to guest author Miloslav Rechcígl, Jr. for his...

History, Holidays, NOSTALGIA

October 5, 2018

The Story Behind the Ceiling of the National Theater

The National Theater (Czech: Národní divadlo) is one of the most significant cultural monuments in the Czech Republic. Its stage has seen performances by world-renowned artists and its balconies have hosted countless famous guests and figures. To this day it remains a symbol of national identity and pride. If you have ever been inside the...

Art and Design, CULTURE

August 24, 2018

The Beautiful Baroque Church of Litomyšl

The Piarist Church of the Discovery of the Holy Cross (Czech: Kostel Nalezení svatého Kříže) is a beautiful Baroque style church located in the town of Litomyšl in the Czech Republic. The Piarist order was first brought to the town of Litomyšl in 1640 by Frebonie of Pernštejn. The Piarists were an order of teachers...

Architecture, CULTURE

July 25, 2018

Photo Lens: Prague in Monochrome

Prague is a picturesque city, to say the least. Its baroque skyline and misty weather conditions make it ideal for a portrait anytime of day, down any street. Its faces and personalities are equally as enchanting and unique – you only have to take a look in our archive to find that some of the...

CULTURE, Photography

July 18, 2018

The Mysterious Amateur Photography of A Soldier in Prague

Looking through old photographs of Prague, we stumbled across a Flickr album by a user named Mark Susina containing spectacular photos of Prague in the 50’s. The photographer of these photos is Marks father, who took the photos while being stationed in Prague in the army. Mark says of the photos that a few of...

CULTURE, Photography

July 16, 2018

The Bohemian Beauties of František Dvořák

František Dvořák, born Bruner, also known as Franz Dvorak or Franz Bruner was a Czech painter. He was born on November 14, 1862 and died on June 7, 1927. He was the son of a tailor named Václav Bruner. He later changed his name to “Dvořák”, possibly for patriotic reasons. He displayed artistic talent from...

Art and Design, CULTURE

July 13, 2018

The Distinctive Works of Alex Kveton

Alex Kveton is a sculptor whose distinct works combine timeless technique and disciplined curves to convey ideas and symbols. He has a very contemporary and unique style, through which he is able to use expressive shapes in order to symbolize content in his art. And yet his sculptures are also able to stand on their...

Art and Design, CULTURE

July 4, 2018

The Photographic Works of Jiří Všetečka

Jiří Všetečka was a Czech documentary-style photographer, born on October 12, 1937 in the city of Prague. In school he enjoyed math, physics, and music, playing both the piano as well as the violin. His love of photography didn’t start until his 20s when he took his first photos on a friends camera which merely...

CULTURE, Photography

June 22, 2018

The Life and Illustrations of Josef Paleček

Josef Paleček has won awards in Austria, Germany, France, and received honorary mention multiple times in the competitions for The Most Beautiful Book of the Year. His illustrations have caught the eyes and touched the hearts of people all over the world and one does not have to look far to see why. His illustrations...

Art and Design, CULTURE

June 1, 2018

Našinec – Last Czech-Language Newspaper in Texas Coming to an End

After 104 years of publication, the end for the last Czech-language newspaper in Texas could come in a Williamson County nursing home. It’s there that 82-year-old Joe Vrabel puts out the Našinec paper as far more labor of love than producer of profit. “Oh, I hate to see it go,” he told me in the...

CULTURE, Periodicals

Magical_Cavern_Prague_Reon_Czech_Painter_Vanished_Shaman

May 21, 2018

Fairy Tale Paintings and the Magical Cavern of Prague

Today we slip into the magical world of Czech painter, Reon Argondian. Though he was born in Prague with a different name, Jan Zahradník, and was given a Czech name that translates to gardener by birth, the powers that be wanted to suppress the garden of his mind. Born on the 21st of July 1948, he...

Art and Design, Bohemians, CULTURE

May 16, 2018

Vladimir Ambroz and His Symbolic Performance Art

Vladimir Ambroz is a name often associated with graphic design, but Ambroz is also a photographer and performance artist. Vladimír Ambroz’s virtually unknown activities in the field of performance art, interventions in the public space and actions related to staged photography lasted only a few years. In the late 1970s, he was part of the Brno...

Art and Design, CULTURE

May 14, 2018

The Old Town Hall of Prague by Count Lützow

What I am sharing today was a published extract from the speech delivered by Count Lützow (Lützow) W, D. LITT. OXON. PH.D. PRAG., at the Old Town Hall of Prague on the occasion of the visit of the Lord Mayor and Deputation of the Coronation of the city of London on the 18th of September,...

Architecture, Czech Republic, History

April 30, 2018

The Face of Prague – Beautiful Images from 75 Years Ago

If you are an old friend and supporter of this site, you know that I love old documents, photographs, books, records and ephemera in general. More so, I love sharing my discoveries with you, the readers. That is precisely why I was inspired to share The Face of Prague – Beautiful Images from 75 Years Ago....

CULTURE, History, Photography

April 16, 2018

Byt a Umění Issue 2 for Czech Contemporary Housing Culture

Today once again, we are looking at Byt a umění (Apartment and Art) Revue for Czech Contemporary Housing Culture: Architecture, Interiors, Painting, Decoration, Sculpture, Plastics, Arts, Gardening, Handicrafts, Exhibitions, Auctions and more. In this edition (Issue 2, 1931), the writers express their frustration with a lack of change in Czech building practices. It seems they...

Architecture, NOSTALGIA, Periodicals