Vaclav Vytlacil American, 1892-1984

Abstraction
Abstraction
Abstraction
Abstraction, 1938
Tempera on board
24 x 18 inches
Framed: 28 5/8 x 22 5/8 inches
Signed and dated upper right: VYTLACIL 1938
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artist

Vaclav Vytlacil was born in New York City on November 1, 1892.  His parents were Czechoslovakian immigrants who had come to the United States and settled in the New York area.  At the age of thirteen Vaclav was enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago.  He received a scholarship from the Art Students League in 1913 and returned to New York where he studied under Impressionist painter John C. Johansen.  In 1916 he accepted a teaching position from the Minneapolis School of Art.  This post allowed him to study abroad in Europe especially the art of Cézanne.  Vytlacil settled in Munich and became a member of the Royal Academy of Art.  Here he became close friends with two American artists Ernst Thurn and Worth Ryder.  Vytlacil was introduced to the abstract artist Hans Hoffman through Thurn, and when Thurn decided to leave the Royal Academy to study with Hoffman, Vytlacil followed suit.  Vytacil was greatly affected by Hoffman’s work and began to take a serious interest in creating works in this new style.  Vytlacil traveled with Hoffman as his teaching assistant and student from 1922 to 1926.

 

In 1927 Vaclav Vytlacil returned to the United States.  He gave many lectures during this time period and became a member of the Art Students League faculty.  Completely charmed by the work of this group, Vytlacil returned to Europe in order to persuade Hans Hoffman to return to the United States and to become a member.  After six years abroad Vytlacil returned to the United States permanently. In the 1940s and 1950s his works become even more non-representational and spontaneous.  Vytlacil continued to work and teach with the Art Students League until 1978.  He died in Sparkhill, New Jersey on January 5, 1984.

Description

Abstraction, 1938 was completed when Vaclav Vytlacil was experimenting with two distinct artistic styles: abstract cubism and modern non-representational. The latter style is what we observe in Abstraction, 1938. At this time Vytlacil was working with the American Abstract Artists, an organization which he helped to found. In the 1930s Vytlacil had moved away from his Impressionist beginnings and had established himself among the Abstract artists living in the New York City area. This clear trend toward modernism is evident in Abstraction, 1938. In this work Vytlacil depicts forms that appear suspended in space. All but two objects are unidentifiable, and they seem to gravitate toward the center of the work. Vytlacil's love for spatial relationships is clearly represented. The solid colors that Vytlacil chose to paint have created a solid and structured atmosphere that unifies the objects in the painting. Many similar works created during this period by Vytlacil were made with collaged materials. Although Vytlacil does not make use of collage in Abstraction, 1938, he nonetheless produces the illusion of applied matter and overlapping space.

Overview

Vaclav Vytlacil was born in New York City on November 1, 1892.  His parents were Czechoslovakian immigrants who had come to the United States and settled in the New York area.  At the age of thirteen Vaclav was enrolled at the Art Institute of Chicago.  He received a scholarship from the Art Students League in 1913 and returned to New York where he studied under Impressionist painter John C. Johansen.  In 1916 he accepted a teaching position from the Minneapolis School of Art.  This post allowed him to study abroad in Europe especially the art of Cézanne.  Vytlacil settled in Munich and became a member of the Royal Academy of Art.  Here he became close friends with two American artists Ernst Thurn and Worth Ryder.  Vytlacil was introduced to the abstract artist Hans Hoffman through Thurn, and when Thurn decided to leave the Royal Academy to study with Hoffman, Vytlacil followed suit.  Vytacil was greatly affected by Hoffman’s work and began to take a serious interest in creating works in this new style.  Vytlacil traveled with Hoffman as his teaching assistant and student from 1922 to 1926.

 

In 1927 Vaclav Vytlacil returned to the United States.  He gave many lectures during this time period and became a member of the Art Students League faculty.  Completely charmed by the work of this group, Vytlacil returned to Europe in order to persuade Hans Hoffman to return to the United States and to become a member.  After six years abroad Vytlacil returned to the United States permanently. In the 1940s and 1950s his works become even more non-representational and spontaneous.  Vytlacil continued to work and teach with the Art Students League until 1978.  He died in Sparkhill, New Jersey on January 5, 1984.

Memberships

American Abstract Artists

Art Students League

Society of Independent Artists

Royal Academy of Art, Munich

Exhibitions

Art Institute of Chicago

Carnegie Institute

Corcoran Gallery Biennial

Metropolitan Museum of Art

National Academy of Design

Pennsylvania Academy

Society of Independent Artists

Whitney Museum of American Art

Museums and Public Collections

Art Students League, New York

Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center

Dalton School, New York

Metropolitan Museum of Art

University of Notre Dame Art Gallery, South Bend, Indiana

Whitney Museum of American Art, New York

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