Josef Váchal
Encyclopedia
Josef Váchal was a Czech writer, painter, graphic designer and book-printer.
Váchal was the illegitimate son of Josef Aleš-Lyžec
and Anna Váchalová - his parents never married. He was brought up by his grandparents, Jan Aleš and Jana Alešová, in the southern Bohemian town of Písek
, where he entered grammar school but left it prematurely. In 1898 Váchal moved to Prague
, where he studied bookbinding and befriended his father's cousin, the painter Mikoláš Aleš
. He was influenced by Art Nouveau
during that time.
In 1900 he wrote his first poems, by 1903 he joined the Prague Theosophy Society, in 1904 he entered the Painter School and later became a respected painter and graphic designer. In 1910 Váchal published his first two books. Between January 1912 and January 1913 he enjoyed a short but intense friendship with the mystical Catholic writer Jakub Deml
. In March 1913, Váchal married Máša Pešulová, and began a friendship with the collector J. Portman; Portman's house Portmoneum is now the Váchal Museum in Litomyšl
.
From 1916 to 1918 Váchal served as a soldier on the Italian front. During 1940, expressing resistance against Nazi
occupation of Czechoslovakia
, he moved from Prague
to the village of Studeňany ('tusculum' or 'exile'). After the communist revolution of 1948 in Czechoslovakia
, he became more socially and culturally isolated and his works were rarely seen in public. He lived in obscurity on the family estate of his partner, Anna Macková, in Studeňany. Even with the coming of Prague Spring
in the late 1960s his situation didn’t significantly change. He was, however, awarded the state title of Meritorious Artist (Zasloužilý umělec) shortly before his death in 1969. He is buried in the village of Radim near Jičín
, eastern Bohemia.
The publishing house Paseka was inspired by the character publisher Paseka in Vachal's Bloody Novel. Portmoneum, Váchal's museum in Litomyšl
, was founded by Paseka publishing house in the early 1990s.
Váchal was the illegitimate son of Josef Aleš-Lyžec
Josef Aleš-Lyžec
Josef Aleš-Lyžec was a Czech teacher and sportsman.He was descendant of known south-Bohemian Aleš family, cousin of well-known painter Mikoláš Aleš and father of famous writer Josef Váchal . He was great propagator of skiing...
and Anna Váchalová - his parents never married. He was brought up by his grandparents, Jan Aleš and Jana Alešová, in the southern Bohemian town of Písek
Písek
Písek is a town in the South Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has a population of 29 909 .-About:Písek is usually called "The Athens of the South", although Athens is much more southerly, because it has many high schools and schools of higher education, e.g. the Film School in Písek...
, where he entered grammar school but left it prematurely. In 1898 Váchal moved to Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, where he studied bookbinding and befriended his father's cousin, the painter Mikoláš Aleš
Mikoláš Aleš
Mikoláš Aleš , was a Czech painter.-Biography:Aleš was born in Mirotice near Písek, into a relatively rich family that was in debt at the time. He was taught history by his brother František until the latter's death in 1865; he expressed interest in painting at an early age...
. He was influenced by Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau is an international philosophy and style of art, architecture and applied art—especially the decorative arts—that were most popular during 1890–1910. The name "Art Nouveau" is French for "new art"...
during that time.
In 1900 he wrote his first poems, by 1903 he joined the Prague Theosophy Society, in 1904 he entered the Painter School and later became a respected painter and graphic designer. In 1910 Váchal published his first two books. Between January 1912 and January 1913 he enjoyed a short but intense friendship with the mystical Catholic writer Jakub Deml
Jakub Deml
Jakub Deml was a Czech Catholic priest and writer.-Life:Deml was born in Tasov near Třebíč, then Austria-Hungary, now Czech Republic. In 1902 he was ordained Roman Catholic priest, but in 1907-1908 and after 1909 he was pensioned, partly due to conflicts with his superiors. He became one of the...
. In March 1913, Váchal married Máša Pešulová, and began a friendship with the collector J. Portman; Portman's house Portmoneum is now the Váchal Museum in Litomyšl
Litomyšl
Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
.
From 1916 to 1918 Váchal served as a soldier on the Italian front. During 1940, expressing resistance against Nazi
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
occupation of Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, he moved from Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
to the village of Studeňany ('tusculum' or 'exile'). After the communist revolution of 1948 in Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia
Czechoslovakia or Czecho-Slovakia was a sovereign state in Central Europe which existed from October 1918, when it declared its independence from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, until 1992...
, he became more socially and culturally isolated and his works were rarely seen in public. He lived in obscurity on the family estate of his partner, Anna Macková, in Studeňany. Even with the coming of Prague Spring
Prague Spring
The Prague Spring was a period of political liberalization in Czechoslovakia during the era of its domination by the Soviet Union after World War II...
in the late 1960s his situation didn’t significantly change. He was, however, awarded the state title of Meritorious Artist (Zasloužilý umělec) shortly before his death in 1969. He is buried in the village of Radim near Jičín
Jicín
Jičín is a town in the Hradec Králové Region of the Czech Republic. It lies approximately 85 km northeast of Prague in the scenic region of the Bohemian Paradise under the Prachov Rocks ....
, eastern Bohemia.
The publishing house Paseka was inspired by the character publisher Paseka in Vachal's Bloody Novel. Portmoneum, Váchal's museum in Litomyšl
Litomyšl
Litomyšl is a town and municipality in the Pardubice Region of the Czech Republic. The chateau complex in the town centre is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.-History:...
, was founded by Paseka publishing house in the early 1990s.
Work (only main texts)
- Krvavý román [Bloody Novel, can be translated as Penny DreadfulPenny DreadfulA penny dreadful was a type of British fiction publication in the 19th century that usually featured lurid serial stories appearing in parts over a number of weeks, each part costing an penny...
] published 1924 - Mor v Korcule [Plague in Korcula] (published 1927)
- Malíř na frontě. Soca a Italie 1917-18 [Painter in War. Soca and Italy 1917-18] (published 1929)
- Šumava umírající a romantická [Gabreta dying and romantical] (published 1931, 11 copies)
- Receptář barevného dřevorytu [Book of colored woodcut] (published 1934) - theoretical work on woodcut techniques
- Nejnovejší legatio mortuorum [Newest legatio mortuorum] (published 1936)
- Kázání ad calendas graecas [Sermon ad calendas graecas] (published 1939, 17 copies)
- Ďáblova odstředivka [Devil's Spin Drier] (published 1941, 10 copies)
- Čertova babička [Imp's Grandma] (written 1940-1948)
- Moudrost Svobodného zednářství [Wisdom of Free-Masonry] (written 1951)
- Robinson mohelnský [Robinson of Mohelno] (written 1955)
- Živant a umrlanti [Living Man (=Vachal) and Zombies (=communists) of this world] (written 1956)
- Čarodejnice z Holešovic neboli Vězeň v bolševickém hradě [Witch of Holesovice or Prisoner in Bolsheviks's Castle] (written 1959)
- Paměti [Memoirs] published 1994
- Deníky 1922-1964 [Diaries] published 1998