Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2017/08/03
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]On our second day in Cesky Krumlov, the weather was iffy, and the light was like a soft box rather than bright sun. We still managed to see the town. When it rained, we ducked into a museum devoted to the works of the early 20th century Expressionist Egon Schiele, who spent a lot of time in Cesky Krumlov. No photographs were allowed there, but I want to share something about the museum with you. The exhibit pairs several photographic views of the town with Schiele's paintings of them. What he saw contrasted with how it made him feel. A very effective way to get into the artist's head. There was also an exhibit of the Czech artist Vera Novakova (born 1928). It drove home how even though the post-war Czech Communist regime was considered less repressive than the Soviet Union, conditions for free thinkers were still pretty bleak. For years, Novakova was prevented from finishing her art studies after WWII because she and her family were "politically unreliable." Even after getting permission to support herself with her art, she was still forbidden to exhibit. <http://www.artforgood.cz/en/umelec/vera-novakova> <http://www.artforgood.cz/en/virtualni-prohlidky/vera-novakova-kampak-a-odkud> see especially "Thus Passes the Glory of the World (Sic Transit Gloria Mundi) On to my pictures. We climbed up the castle tower, and saw some beautiful views of the town. <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/35950230360/in/dateposted-public/> (Click photo to enlarge, note the blocky Soviet-style apartment buildings at the upper right, in contrast to the old town in the foreground) <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/36347134595/in/dateposted-public/> <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/35950230260/in/dateposted-public/> Here is a young woman selling Trdeln?k, a cylindrical pastry rolled in cinnamon, sugar and (often) crushed walnuts: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/35511228504/in/dateposted-public/> Street scene from the old town: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/36347134335/in/dateposted-public/> The old doorway of a Pension, with self-portrait added for good measure: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/35950230160/in/dateposted-public/> Into the light, from a very narrow alleyway: <https://www.flickr.com/photos/24844563 at N04/35950230010/in/dateposted-public/> Next stop, Prague. Enjoy! --Peter