Czech Modern and Contemporary Art and Architecture

This combined seminar and lecture course aims to acquaint students with aspects of Central European visual culture from the modern era onwards. It will introduce major art styles and personalities in Czech modern art (from Art Nouveau’s Alphonse Mucha and the pioneer of abstraction František Kupka, to the unique phenomena of Czech Cubism and Surrealism all the way to the contemporary provocations of David Černý). Deep changes that occurred in architecture (from Art Nouveau decoration through Functionalist utopia to deconstruction of Postmodernism) will be introduced and discussed. All artworks will be examined within their broader cultural and historical context. Students will be given the opportunity to visit many Prague galleries and museums to encounter and study the originals in detail.