Databáze uměleckých výstav v českých zemích 1820 – 1950

In 1913, the Artistic Forum (Umělecká beseda) celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of its founding. All three sections of this association – literary section, musical section, and fine arts section – organized a series of events, in addition to publishing a large commemorative volume [Jelínek 1913]. The visual arts section, the last of the "flowers" symbolizing the union of literature, music, and art in the association's emblem, held a major exhibition in the Municipal House. In addition to simply looking back at five decades of activity, the organizers sought to showcase the work of their current members and the section's extensive educational initiatives. The exhibition unfolded in three parts: documentary, retrospective, and contemporary, the last featuring work by members of the newly formed Circle of Visual Artists (Kruh výtvarných umělců).

Visitors entering the Municipal House first encountered halls displaying materials the Artistic Forum had published since 1865, along with documentary evidence of its activities and examples of commemorative plaques and memorials of writers, painters, and composers that the Artistic Forum had commissioned. The retrospective section followed, featuring works from the Artistic Forum's own holdings, several private collections, and the Náprstek Museum. It included not only the Forum’s members but also associate artists, including Adolf Kosárek, who had died four years before the Forum's founding. The organizers had originally envisioned the National Theatre decorations as the centerpiece of this section because they were arguably the most significant artistic achievement of the Artistic Forum and of Czech art during those fifty years. However, unable to secure key loans, particularly from the Modern Gallery, the organizers settled for a more modest historical survey. They acknowledged that it would merely be "a fragment of the originally intended portrait of the visual arts section's broader influence" [Jubilejní výstava 1913, unpaginated].

While many reviewers noted these gaps, most praised the retrospective as a valuable survey of Czech artistic development and a powerful reminder of the creative heights reached during the National Theatre project, which still dominated this section despite the reduced scope. The inclusion of lesser-known figures was particularly welcomed: alongside celebrated names like Josef Mánes, Václav Brožík, and Julius Mařák, the exhibition featured genre painter Jan Popelík, Haushofer's student Bohuslav Kroupa or South Bohemian artist Josef Jakší. The curators also thoughtfully incorporated "objects that, while not historically significant for Czech art, illuminate the internal workings of the visual arts section over the years" [Jubilejní výstava 1913, unpaginated].

The exhibition's third section stirred the greatest controversy. Here, the Circle of Visual Artists – formed within the Artistic Forum in 1910 – presented nearly forty works anonymously, invoking the tradition of early Christian and "primitive" unsigned art. Only Mikoláš Aleš, whose artistic legacy deeply influenced this group gathered around Jaroslav Jareš, was identified by name in the catalogue. Reviewers also recognized František Bílek's sculptures. The rest remained anonymous, though photographs of the exhibition show works that we can now identify as sculptures by Vojtěch Sapík or paintings by Augusta Nekolová, both Artistic Forum members involved in the planning of the exhibition. Jaroslav Jareš himself almost certainly contributed as well. Some critics found it infuriatingly presumptuous that these contemporary artists staged themselves as "anonymous Gothic masters" [Laurin 1913]. Others saw the anonymity as indicative of deeper issues: the Artistic Forum's glory had been fading for years, and even this younger generation, expected to revitalize the organization, apparently lacked the confidence to stand behind their work publicly.

All three parts of the show occupied the exhibition architecture which Pavel Janák had designed for the Municipal House the previous year and which Josef Gočár had subsequently modified for exhibitions by the Group of Fine Artists. Čeněk Vořech, Artistic Forum member and a recent graduate of the School of Applied Arts, adapted the cubist ceilings and burlap-covered panels and plinths for this occasion. Working within the already complex space, the young architect created additional nooks and alcoves for paintings and decorative arts. Judging from surviving photographs – many published in the illustrated weekly Světozor during the exhibition's run – the result was a remarkably unified, enclosed and almost catacomb-like environment, particularly in the contemporary section. The reviews noted one significant flaw: inadequate lighting [Anonymous author 1913, p. 164].

With over three hundred works on display, the Jubilee Exhibition was among Prague's largest that year. Given both its scale and the Artistic Forum's pivotal role in Czech cultural life throughout the latter 19th century, the press devoted considerable attention to the event. Papers such as Právo lidu and Národní listy repeatedly promoted it, with brief notices appearing several times weekly. Although Prague audiences had seen major retrospectives showcasing decades of Czech art, notably at the 1891 Provincial Jubilee Exhibition and the 1908 Fine Arts Society Jubilee Exhibition, comprehensive exhibitions remained relatively uncommon. The introduction to the catalogue and the press coverage both suggest that the organizers struggled to find a coherent framework for presenting fifty years of institutional history, the work of current members, and the Forum's broader cultural activities. Ultimately, the exhibition revealed a telling paradox: the Artistic Forum's glorious tradition commanded deep respect, yet its contemporary members' work was met with uncertainty and hesitation.

Tereza Štěpánová

Works Cited

Jelínek 1913: Hanuš Jelínek (ed.), Padesát let Umělecké besedy 1863–1913, Praha 1913

Jubilejní výstava 1913: Jubilejní výstava Umělecké Besedy v Obecním domě u Prašné brány, březen–duben 1913 (exh. cat.), Praha 1913

Laurin 1913: Arne Laurin, Jubilejní výstava „Umělecké Besedy“, Rozvoj VII, 1913, no. 15, 11. 4., pp. 3–4

Anonymous author 1913: Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké besedy, Volné směry XVII, 1913, no. 1, pp. 163–164

Further Reading

Eva Petrová – Ludvík Ševeček, Umělecká beseda 1863–2003 (exh. cat.), Praha 2003, p. 40

F. V. Mokrý, Dvacet let života výtvarného odboru Umělecké besedy, in: František Skácelík, Sedmdesát let Umělecké besedy 1863–1933, Praha 1933, pp. 52–74

Archival Sources

Literary Archive of the Museum of Czech Literature, fonds Umělecká beseda [Artistic Forum], box A60, Správní výbor UB: foto jubilejní výstavy UB v roce 1863–1913 [Artistic Forum Administration Committee: photo of the jubilee exhibition,1863–1913]

Anonymous author, Drobnosti kulturní a umělecké, Besedy lidu XXI, 1913, no. 13, 12. 4., p. 206

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké besedy, Národní listy LIII, 1913, no. 70, 12. 3., p. 2; no. 100, 13. 4., p. 4; no. 141, 25. 5., p. 5

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké besedy, Venkov VIII, 1913, no. 110, 11. 5., p. 10

Anonymous author, Padesát let českého výtvarného umění, Venkov VIII, 1913, no. 69, 22. 3., p. 8

Anonymous author, Do jubilejní výstavy Umělecké Besedy, Venkov VIII, 1913, no. 89, 16. 4., p. 8

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké Besedy v Obecním domě, Čech XXXVIII, 1913, no. 88, 1. 4., p. 6; no. 130, 14. 5., p. 9

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké Besedy, Právo lidu XXII, 1913, no. 86, 30. 3., p. 2; no. 89, 2. 4., p. 7; no. 93, 6. 4., p. 1; no. 98, 11. 4., p. 9; no. 99, 12. 4., p. 7; no. 100, 13. 4., p. 2; no. 102, 15. 4., p. 7; no. 111, 24. 4., p. 7; no. 131, 15. 5., p. 7; š. 141, 25. 5., p. 2

Anonymous author, Padesát let českého výtvarného umění, Právo lidu XXII, 1913, no. 82, 26. 3., p. 9; no. 83, 27. 3., p. 9

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké Besedy, Dílo XI, 1913, no. 1, p. 136

Anonymous author, Z jubilejní výstavy Umělecké Besedy, Moravská orlice LI, 1913, no. 118, 26. 5., p. 2

Anonymous author, Jubilejní výstava Umělecké Besedy, Čas XXVII, 1913, no. 73, 15. 3., p. 3; no. 74, 16. 3., p. 5; no. 76, 18. 3., p. 3; no. 82, 26. 3., p. 3; no. 95, 8. 4., p. 5; no. 96, 9. 4., p. 7; no. 98, 11. 4., p. 4; no. 100, 13. 4., p. 5; no. 102, 15. 4., p. 4; no. 103, 16. 4., p. 4; no. 111, 24. 4., p. 4; no. 114, 27. 4., p. 5; no. 120, 3. 5., p. 3; no. 128, 11. 5., p. 6; no. 141, 25. 5., p. 5

Anonymous author, Prodloužení jubilejní výstavy Umělecké Besedy, Čas XXVII, 1913, no. 121, 4. 5., p. 5; no. 124, 7. 5., p. 3