Václav Špála

1885-1946

In the main, the contrast of cold blue and tones of warm red or pink. A typical feature of Václav Špála's paintings, with which we associate the work of this great artist. However, Špála's artistic range is much broader; in addition to landscape themes of azure waters, azure summer skies and plump female figures or floral still lifes in a vase, his work also includes graphic and design works. Špála was greatly influenced by French Cubism, but unlike the traditional Cubists, he used bright and bold colours. In addition to Cubism, Orphism and Fauvism, he found inspiration in Czech folk art, and through the combination of these influences he developed a very distinctive and unmistakable style.

Like many other artists, Špála collaborated with the Artěl art association. In the 1920s he designed ceramics, toys made of turned wood, distinctively painted glass and fans for Artěl. He was particularly close to the modern reflection of folk art, which was typical of Artěl. Špál's passion for folklore, tradition and the countryside is also reflected in the design of his wooden toys, both in their themes and decor. This was the case, for example, with the children's game called Na pastvě (On the Pasture), which consists of flat figures of shepherds and geese made of plywood, or with a jar in the shape of a peasant woman or a wooden candy box in the shape of a devil. Apart from anthropomorphic figures, the main theme of Artělovský toys was the animal kingdom, and especially various types of birds. Špála designed colourful wooden figures of roosters, hens, chickens and peacocks on legs for the Fairytale Poultry ensemble. The toys produced by Artělovská had to be fair in material, solid and thorough, and above all distinctively coloured. Barbora Kovářová