mixed media (gouache, ink) on cardboard
1944
top right
25 × 39 cm
frame, glass, pasparted
Starting price: —
Auction 84th, Lot 82 Lada's familiar rural scenery, permeated by the spring atmosphere, is an unmistakable work, characteristic in its poetics, which falls into the author's sought-after period in the 1940's. The turbulent war year of 1944 was one of the most fruitful years of Lada's autonomous work - his artistic expression had already stabilized and his ability to capture the cordiality of the countryside and the nostalgia of the depicted scene was at its best. The work portrays the optimistic atmosphere of Lada's native region and the children's carefree pastimes, but also captures the local slowly disappearing traditions and customs. In this case, the making of a dandelion wreath and the popular boyish pastime of carving a whistle. The whole scene, set in an idealized environment reminiscent of theatrical scenery, is created in the author's characteristic drawing style with a significant black outline. Lada was a great solitaire in the field of art, his artistic style was completely free of contemporary artistic tendencies and allowed him to embark on a path of unprecedented freedom of expression. After all, art was the purpose of Lada's existence, and when painting he adhered to his proven rules, which he described to art historian V. V. Štech: "I do summer in winter-time and winter in summer-time." Assesed during consultations by prof. J. Zemina and PhDr. R. Michalová, Ph.D. Expertise by PhDr. P. Pečinková, Csc. attached.