Art that transcends borders — “École de Paris: Artists from Bohemia and Interwar Paris”
The National Gallery Prague is hosting an exhibition, "École de Paris: Artists from Bohemia and Interwar Paris," from 8 November 2024 to 2 March 2025 at the Waldstein Riding School. It highlights artists like Georges Kars, Othon Coubine, and François Zdeněk Eberl, to the Czech audience since they were more known in interwar Paris than in interwar Czechoslovakia. I spoke with National Gallery Prague Director Alicja Knast to learn more.
After World War I, artists responded to a conflict unlike any other in history, grappling with their experiences from the war and the unpredictable nature of the 20th century.
Some drew inspiration from pre-war art, while others explored new artistic expressions. At that time, Paris was the vibrant hub of the international art scene. The exhibition takes visitors on a journey through the galleries and salons of the era, exploring Montmartre and Montparnasse, and introducing them to not only artists and collectors but also to the marginalized individuals who inhabited these spaces.
Alongside commemorating the artists who dominated Parisian art in the interwar years, the exhibition also focuses on the subject matter and styles that shaped their work and were very popular in the artistic scene of the day.
Thematically, the exhibition translates to contemporary politics where nativist policies continue to increase, Director of National Gallery Prague Alicja Knast explains:
“What happened in Paris is particularly relevant because these artists were provided excellent conditions to settle and integrate. They were welcomed, and while the French benefited from their presence, there were also clear opportunities for them to gather and collaborate. This experience is a powerful lesson for today, especially in the context of migration. If we provide the right conditions, we can witness beautiful outcomes.”
The exhibition is the result of many years of research carried out by curator Anna Pravdová. It includes the study of periodicals and correspondence from the period and in-depth research in private and public archives from France, Austria, and the United States.
In addition to works by Georges Kars, Othon Coubine, and François Zdeněk Eberl, the exhibition also showcases works by their contemporaries, including those of global renown, such as Amedeo Modigliani, Marc Chagall, Suzanne Valadon, ChaïmSoutine, Jules Pascin Chana Orloff and Maurice Utrillo. Roughly 250 works are featured from various prestigious European museums, including Czech public galleries and even some private collections.
In this context, Knast also emphasized the transnational scope of the exhibitions:
“This [exhibition] is Czech. It highlights how Czech artists, rooted in their own cultural backgrounds, sought to integrate into French society. They brought new qualities to their work, influenced by the French environment.
“It’s an interesting concept, as École de Paris isn’t just about trends or styles, but rather about the broader social and cultural phenomena that shaped these artists’ experiences. It’s something we can be inspired by.”
