Wichterlová, Hana

Hana Wichterlová (1903 Prostějov – 1990 Prague)

A Bud, (1932)

marble; height 98 cm, acquired 1989, Olomouc Museum of Art, inv. no. P 1074

Prominent Czech sculptor Hana Wichterlová came from a family of Prostějov entrepreneurs. Her father Karel Wichterle was co-owner of the famous Wichterle and Kovařík (Wikov) company. Her brother was the renowned Czech scientist and inventor Otto Wichterle (1913–1998). Hana Wichterlová studied at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts (1919–1925) and subsequently spent five years in Paris. From 1931 she was a member of the Mánes Association of Fine Artists. She was one of the most significant Czech sculptors of the inter-war avant-garde, and initially her greatest influence was Jan Štursa (1880–1925). Wichterlová worked in the spirit of Neoclassicism, and later also Cubism. Finally she moved on from that and came close to the style of Constantin Brâncuşi (1876–1957). The statue titled A Bud was created in 1932 from Kosoř marble.