Jaroslav Ježek (1906-1942)

František Zelenka (1904-1944)

A COLLECTION OF SONGS FROM THE LIBERATED THEATER (OSVOBOZENÉ DIVADLO)

1929-1938
21 individual songs (no. 71-76, 110-113, 431, 442, 443, 477, 478, 483, 497, 531, 533, 549, 554) for example from theater plays Golem, Caesar or Don Juan & comp. and 3 sets of songs from plays Těžká Barbora, Rub a líc and Pěst na oko. Format 2°, 34x27 cm (6x), 4°, 31x24 cm (3x) and 12°, 16,5x13,5 cm (15x). Cover design by František Zelenka and Atelier Rotter. Issued by Hudební Matice Umělecké Besedy, or R. A. Dvorský in Prague. Slightly soiled in places, torn, creased corners. Atelier Rotter, the most prominent pre-war graphic design studio in Prague, was founded by Czech advertising graphic artist Vilém Rotter (1903-1978). After studying electrical engineering at the Technical University of Prague, he moved to Paris in the 1920s, where he found work in advertising. Upon returning to Prague, he established his advertising firm, Atelier Rotter. By the early 1930s, it had become the largest advertising studio in Prague. After relocating to the U Nováků Palace in 1934, Rotter founded a private painting school, where many renowned artists studied. During WWII, it was one of the few places offering painting and graphic design education. In 1939, due to his Jewish origin, Rotter was forced to flee abroad. The atelier was taken over by his employee, architect Jan Jedlička, but it only operated until 1944. Besides advertising for large companies (e.g. Škoda), the atelier designed promotional materials for smaller manufacturers and merchants, sports and entertainment events, record companies, films (Lucernafilm, Elekta), and theater performances at the Liberated Theater and Vlasta Burian Theater. After Rotter`s emigration, the studio was renamed Atelier Jedlička.