Giclée on handmade paper, passe-partout, 30x40 cm. Limited edition of 35 pieces issued on the occasion of Zdeněk Burian's exhibition at the Czech Gallery of Modern Art.
About the author:
Zdeněk Michael František Burian was born on February 11, 1905, in Kopřivnice. He showed extraordinary artistic talent in his childhood, and at the age of fourteen (in 1919), he was accepted into the second year of Professor Jakub Obrovský's class at the Academy of Fine Arts (AVU) in Prague, with Max Švabinský directly supporting his admission.
He remained at the Academy for less than two years. After the second year, in 1921, he left the school. The reason was not a simple critique of the teaching, but rather a combination of personal and existential reasons. Sources state that he did not feel comfortable in the big city environment and among older classmates. The family's financial situation was also a burden—there were no funds for long-term studies.
The Academy formally gave him a foundation, but long-term academic study did not suit him, and life circumstances directed him toward a professional career as an illustrator and painter. After leaving the Academy, he began working as an illustrator at the age of sixteen.
His first illustrated book was "The Adventures of David Balfour" by Robert Louis Stevenson, published by Jos. R. Vilímek in Prague in 1921. This debut launched Burian's long collaboration with Vilímek's publishing house, which was among the most prominent in Czechoslovakia at the time and for which he also illustrated later famous titles by Jules Verne, Karel May, and Jack London.
In the 1930s, Zdeněk Burian also illustrated for other significant publishing houses, such as Melantrich, which published adventure and popular science books. Here, he illustrated, among others, books by Czech authors—for example, Rudolf Luskáč, whose stories from exotic natural environments enjoyed great popularity.
After World War II, Burian's collaboration shifted to the newly established State Publishing House for Children's Books (SNDK), which was renamed Albatros in 1969. Here, his most famous illustrations were created for the works of Eduard Štorch (prehistoric novels) and for the popular science books of Josef Augusta (Hunters of Cave Bears, From Ancient Times, Pictures from Prehistory). These books significantly contributed to the popularization of prehistory, and Burian's illustrations became a global phenomenon.
In addition to his main partners, Burian also collaborated with smaller publishing houses, for which he created individual illustrations, covers, or magazine contributions. His works appeared, for example, in the magazines Tramp, Zápisník, Pionýr, or in specialized publications. Zdeněk Burian illustrated over 500 books during his lifetime and created thousands of illustrations—from adventure literature to popular science books and iconic reconstructions of prehistory.
Zdeněk Michael František Burian died on June 1, 1981, in Prague, and is considered one of the most prolific and influential Czech painters and illustrators of the 20th century.
