2. To the Well [1890]

Jaroslav Vesin was born in Vrani, Czechia in 1860. He trained at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he was educated in classical forms and deeply inspired by native Czech creators of his time such as Josef Manes (1820-1871) and Sobeslav Pinkas (1827-1901). The realistic Czech painting in this period is one of the leading in Europe and gives a good foundation to Vesin as an artist in the genres of genre and later military painting. In 1880 he went to study at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich with Prof. Karl Pilotti and Josef Brand. Brand greatly influences the interest and attitude of Jaroslav Vesin towards genre painting. This interest accompanies his work and life to the very end, but perhaps most visibly it manifests itself in the Slovak period of the artist. Vesin left for Slovakia in 1881, fulfilling his military duty in the regiment. It doesn't take long for the artist to be enchanted by the popular life and culture. Even after returning to Munich, Vesin continued to be excited about the themes and subjects he painted in Slovakia. He is also known for sketching animals, mostly horses and dogs. It is really curious the excitement in the intimate, daily scenes, which the artist recreates in his drawings and paintings. They are full of ethnographic evidence in relation to traditional folk costumes and crafts typical of the regions he inhabits: “The life of Slovakia and Moravia, with their better preserved national appearance, is interesting at this time for all Czech artists who are vividly concerned with the issue of national self-determination.” These motifs are often intertwined with moments of idealization, which manifest themselves in the purity of subjects, color and line. In Jaroslav Vesin's work during this period, we also find exceptionally cheerful images, which give the feeling of freedom and love for life. The painting "By the well" recreates a similar romantic scene. The three figures of a man, a woman and a horse stand centrally in the composition, while a well and houses are revealed behind them. This storyline against the background of the endlessly spreading sky refers to the unique idyll and pure beauty that Jaroslav Vesin places at the center of his work. The painting is most likely a preparatory drawing for the 1890 work "Pri studni", part of the collection of the Slovak National Gallery. (S.Y.)

References

Tsoncheva, Mara (1955). Yaroslav Veshin, Life and Work. Sofia: ed. Bulgarian Artist

Dimensions

width 23.5 cm, height 38 cm

Description

oil paints on canvas, Signed lower left in black, "J. Vesin"; marked lower left in black, "Skycа".

Research information

The artwork meets the criteria for cultural value, according to the expert conclusion for identification.

Dating

1890

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