New Acquisitions from the Baruch Collection
Jan Saudek (Czech, b, 1935)
Pregnant Woman lying on Floor with Doll, 1977, Gelatin silver print. Gift of the Baruch Family Foundation
Vaclav Chochola (Czech, 1923-2005), Man Ray, Paris, 1968, Gelatin silver print. Gift of the Baruch Family Foundation
Josef Ehm (Czech, 1909-1989), Spartakiade,, n.d., Gelatin silver print. Gift of the Baruch Family Foundation
In July, the MoCP received a generous gift of 200 images from the Baruch Foundation. The Baruchs began collecting works by artists from countries behind the ??Iron Curtain? in the 1950s and 60s. The couple visited Prague during the Prague Spring in 1968, a period of reform in the country, and were, in the words of Anne Baruch, ??bewitched by the haunting beauty of the city and captivated by the art?by remarkably gifted but unknown artists.? By the fall of 1968, Prague??s Spring abruptly ended as the country was again occupied by the Soviets. As dealers of Czech artworks in the United States, the Baruch??s created a window and voice for these artists' works, despite the difficulties they had in transporting the photographs out of closed off Prague.
The MoCP acquisitions include works by artists Pavel Banka, Jindrich Brok, Vaclav Chochola, Frantisek Drtikol, Josef Ehm, Jaromir Funke, Stepan Grygar, Jiri Hanke, Viktor Kolar, Jan Lauschmann, Jiri Lehovec, Emila Medkova, Jaroslav Rossler, Dr. D.J. Ruzicka, Jan Saudek, Adolf Schneeberger, Jindrich Streit, and Josef Sudek.
The acquisition ??adds an important group of work from one of the most interesting regions of experimental modernist photography? to the museum??s collection, says MoCP curator Karen Irvine. The works are also a significant addition to the museum??s holdings of works by Czech artists.
Keep checking the collections web page for images and more information about these new additions. Until then, enjoy this sneak peek.
-- Sarah Miller