Jan Zrzavý was a leading graphic artist, illustrator and scenographer, a significant personality of Czech modern art and a principal representative of the avant-garde* at the beginning of the 20th century. He founded an artistic group named Sursum, and was a member of the Mánes, Tvrdošíjní (Obstinates), Umelecká beseda and Hollar (Czech Graphic Association) artistic associations. He was a mysterious, solitary artist with his own melancholic world, rarely open to anybody else. The mystery communicated through his creations is the reason why he is often called the "painter of dreams".

Jan Zrzavý was born on 5th November 1890 in Okrouhlice near Havlíckuv Brod (map). He was skilled in many areas, including painting, literatu...