Drápal Vladimír 1921–2015

Self-portrait, 1974

signed underneath DRÁPAL 74, glazed ceramic, 39 × 49 cm
Vladimír Drápal's work is based on the modernist tradition of in shape abbreviation, abstract, reduced expression and sovereign drawing made with a few strokes of the pen, reminiscent of Picasso's inspiration or the shape and volume modelling of Brancusi and Moore. Intentional stylization of human figures, portraits and animals leading to various shapes and deformations does not bring his work closer to the grotesque, but rather to the form of of prehistoric and primitive depictions and pre-images, emphasizing only certain archetypal features and characteristics of the depicted object.