On Art and Life

Georges Rouault (1871–1958) was not only an outstanding artist but also a great man of letters. His literary reflections give insight to his art which represents a special phenomenon within the French context. Rouault favoured the kind of expressionism typical of Scandinavian or German sensitivity; moreover, he was a deep believer which made him rather unique character among the free-thinking Parisian artists. The recurring claim of his reflections is, that painting is not an entertainment, a pleasant pastime or appealing decoration. On the contrary, for the genuine author, it is the sole reason for his existence. He had understanding admirers in the Czech lands even before he became famous. In 1913 the publisher Josef Florian issued the prints of his paintings marked with a profound sensitivity for nuances in his work.