Auction 84th, Lot 17 This exceptionally dynamic work is an excellent example of Špála's concept of modern landscape painting. This acclaimed author, much in demand by collectors, travelled to the countryside several times a year and repeatedly returned to various parts of Bohemia and Moravia. The local flora provided him with a basis for his still lifes, while the landscape challenged him to capture the atmosphere of the area in plein air. In 1928 Špála spent the summer in the Orlické Mountains at Potštejn Castle and in the vicinity of Vamberk. The painting Harvest comes from this period. In it the author captured the magical atmosphere of the summer months in bold, reduced shapes in the spirit of progressive painting, without violating the established principles of composition. The tension between the goldenness of the ripening corn fields and the soft red sky becomes crucial in this work. The canvas thus achieves extraordinary impact and confirms Špála's artistic skill, as well as his talent for putting his own strength and depth into each subject and composition. The painting is listed in Špála's list of works under the designation 385 1928 Harvest near Vamberk and the inscription in the list suggests that it was originally acquired by Hradecká spořitelna and has subsequently been part of an important Hradec Králové collection. The canvas will be included in the upcoming monograph by PhDr. K. Srp. Assesed during consultations by prof. J. Zemina and PhDr. R. Michalová, Ph.D. From the attached expertise by PhDr. K. Srp: "[...] The painting clearly shows how the author was influenced by the choice of the environment in which he was painting, how he could accurately capture it, including the current light atmosphere. In the front a row of dark trees on a slope contrasts with the illuminated surroundings, expressed by wide, undulating stretches of fields, with a slightly indicated, descending hill, closing the horizon [...]”. Authorized report by PhDr. M. Kodl attached.