Josef Váchal (1884-1969)

JUDITH AND HOLOFERNES

Color woodcut on handmade paper 25x24 cm (40x34 cm), signed in pencil lower right under the print area "J. Váchal", titled lower left "Judita a Holofernes (Z Postyly)" and annotated "Bar. dřev., ruční tisk", signed lower right in print "J. Váchal". A very rare copy from Váchal’s peak creative period. This motif was used in Váchal’s book Koruna bludařstva, to jest Postyla kacířská. As Váchal himself stated in his publishing notes, the book was printed in 16 copies, and furthermore, "These woodcuts, apart from the book, were printed three more times on separate sheets, and the printing blocks were destroyed during the process." This is therefore the first of a total of three loose sheets that Váchal produced. Traces of adjustment on the verso, slightly stained paper. Compare with: the collections of the Moravian Gallery in Brno, inv. no. C 30391.