Saturday, September 19, 2015

Jakub Schikaneder

The Sad Way
oil on canvas
141 × 217 cm
National Gallery in Prague, Czech Republic

Jakub Schikaneder (1855-1924) was a Bohemian painter. He is known for his soft paintings of the outdoors, often lonely in mood. His paintings often feature poor and outcast figures. Other motifs favoured by him were autumn and winter, corners and alleyways, often in the early evening light, or cloaked in mist. He is counted amongst those who admired the Munich School of the end of the 19th century. The National Gallery in Prague held an exhibition of his paintings from May 1998 until January 1999.

He came from the family of a German customs office clerk. Despite the family's poor background, he was able to pursue his studies, thanks in part to his family's love of art. After having completed his studies in Prague and Munich (1871-1879), he was involved in the furnishing of the royal box in the National Theatre in Prague, and after this work, he travelled through Europe, visiting Germany, England, Scotland, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Italy and France. From 1891 until 1923 he taught in Prague's Art College.