Míla Doleželová (1922-1993)

SET OF FOURTEEN DRAWINGS FOR THE BOOK SINGING VIOLINS – ROMANI FAIRY TALES

1969
Fourteen drawings in pencil and charcoal on handmade paper, 23 × 28 – 28 × 30 cm. Surface soiling from graphite rubbing. Studies and sketches for illustrations to the fairy tales “How Kalo Dant Reached the Seventh World”; “How Šarkáň Caused Mischief in the World”; “The Werewolf Princess”; “Clever Zamur”; “How the Fool Dilino Outwitted the Devil”; “On the Faithful Friendship of Feďma Márton and Róža Šándor”; “The Devil’s Clearing”; “Godžáver – Son of the Bitch”; “The Beautiful Sorceress”; “The Terrible Angulimál”; “Lavuta”; “Ori’s Sword”. A remarkable set documenting the creative process accompanying the development of the pictorial illustrations for a children’s book. Some of the drawings presented here were not ultimately used in the book, while others differ significantly from the final ink illustrations that appeared in print. Even behind a small pen illustration intended for a quarter-page format lies a brilliant preparatory drawing. Several illustrations, bearing on the verso the artist’s note with the title of the respective fairy tale, were eventually included in the book under a different title, etc. An important group of works by an artist who, thirty years after her death, is finally receiving considerable attention from collectors. Although her monumental artistic legacy has not yet been fully appreciated, she belongs among the most dynamically developing personalities on the art market.