Vilko Gecan
Encyclopedia
Vilko Gecan was a Croatian artist, influential in the Zagreb modern art scene of the 1920s and 30s. He is best known for his expressionist paintings and drawings, and for his contributions to the avantgarde magazine Zenit. He showed his work in many solo and group exhibitions in Croatia and abroad. In the Zagreb Spring Salon of the 1920s, he participated with Milivoj Uzelac, Marijan Trepše
and Vladimir Varlaj, who together were known as the Group of Four or Prague Four. Trained in Prague, the work of these young painters brought in new expressionist ideas that were to dominate the Croatian art scene of the 1920s.
Vilko Gecan is considered one of the masters of early Croatian expressionism. Two retrospective exhibitions of his work were organized during Gecan’s lifetime, and a large posthumous exhibition was held in 2005 at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb. Gecan received the Vladimir Nazor Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1967.
. In the autumn of 1913 Gecan moved to Munich, where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
, as well as Heymann's private painting school.
At the beginning of the First World War, Gecan was drafted. At the Battle of Soči in July of 1915, he was captured and spent the rest of the war in prisoner-of war camps on Sicily.
In 1919, he went to Prague with Milivoj Uzelac. That same year, they exhibited at the Zagreb Spring Salon, and later as part of the Group of Four (Gecan, Trepše, Uzelac, Varlaj). In 1921 Gecan held his first solo exhibition at the Art Pavilion. In 1922 he went to Berlin, where he studied stained glass techniques, and in 1924-28 he spent time in the United States (New York, Chicago). While there, he attended exhibitions of modern art, seeing the works of Cézanne and Picasso. In 1928, he stayed for a brief time in Paris with Uzelac.
By 1931, Gecan experienced the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a tremor in his right hand that would become stronger, increasingly hindering his ability to paint. In 1932, he returned to Zagreb, where he organized a solo exhibition in the Salon Ulrich. In 1935, aged 41, he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb, in order to formally earn his academic degree.
In 1964, a retrospective of his work was held at the Modern Gallery
in Zagreb. In 1967 he received the Vladimir Nazor Award
for lifetime achievement. In 1972, a further retrospective of Gecan's work was held at the Art Pavilion
.
Vilko Gecan died on 25 June 1973 in Zagreb.
, Ivo Režek and Frano Kršinić
. Together they made the city an important reference for Croatian modern art. There, they picked up the new ideas of secessionism and expressionism, which they brought back to Croatian art.
Gecan's most important works were produced in the 1920s and 30s. By 1921 the beginnings of expressionism were evident in his paintings and drawings. Miroslav Kraljević
's legacy shows in the Klinik (Clinic) cycle, where cubism combined with realism and intense colour. His later work tended to be calmer, with less tension, more art deco stylization.
Gecan's early work shows free movement and the character stylization that would develop into his signature style. It is known that the first exhibition of Miroslav Kraljević
's work in 1912 at the Ulrich Gallery in Zagreb had a significant impact on both Gecan and Uzelac. Gecan continued his education in Munich in 1913, where he broadened his artistic horizons. Gecan's war experience in prisoner-of-war camps had a lasting effect on him. His "Clinic" cycle of 1920, considered a masterpiece of Croatian expressionism, was based on a clinic in Prague, where Gecan was treated for kidney disease. But the paintings depict something closer to a mental hospital with dark characterisations, unsettling black and white rhythms, strange elongated figures, - enclosed spaces with strange characters trapped in them. His experiences in the camps permeated are key to understanding his paintings over the next few years. His uses of visual tension creates a state of anxiety.
At the Spring Salon of 1921, Gecan exhibited the painting "Cinik" (The Cynic), which is now considered the most important work of Croatian Expressionist painting. This image derives from cubist and expressionist styles, symbolizing the world as a stage, and marked deformation of character. A young man in a red suit and bow tie sits at an oversized table with a shifted perspective that is tilted towards the viewer. He is reading Der Sturm, a newspaper that was known to promote expressionist art. The man in the picture is Gecan himself, who at the time was 27 years old. He looks cramped and awkward, the body language suggesting some inner turmoil, while the facial expression is a grimace.
Gecan's later paintings show a broader understanding of style and echoes of cubism, specifically the stylization of art deco. Unfortunately, his artistic development slowed as the symptoms of Parkison's disease took hold. After spending some years in the United States, his work became softer, with a more conventional realism, and he created many still lifes and landscapes.
Croatia
Macedonia
Marijan Trepše
Marijan Trepše was a Croatian painter, graphic artist and set designer, considered to be one of the key figures in Croatian art in the early part of the 20th century. In 1919 the seventh exhibition of the Spring Salon opened at the Crafts school in Zagreb...
and Vladimir Varlaj, who together were known as the Group of Four or Prague Four. Trained in Prague, the work of these young painters brought in new expressionist ideas that were to dominate the Croatian art scene of the 1920s.
Vilko Gecan is considered one of the masters of early Croatian expressionism. Two retrospective exhibitions of his work were organized during Gecan’s lifetime, and a large posthumous exhibition was held in 2005 at the Art Pavilion in Zagreb. Gecan received the Vladimir Nazor Award for Lifetime Achievement in 1967.
Biography
Vilko Gecan was born 16 June 1894 in Kuželj near Brod na Kupi. In 1899 he travelled with his parents to Australia, returning to Croatia again in 1902. He attended school in Karlovac, Glogovnici, Zagreb, Dubica, and from 1910 the gymnasium in Banja Luka, where he met Milivoj Uzelac, with whom he developed a strong friendship that was to last throughout his life. In 1912-13, they both attended the private art school in Zagreb of Tomislav KrizmanTomislav Krizman
Tomislav Krizman , was a Croatian painter, graphic artist, costume and set designer, teacher, author and organizer of cultural events. He painted in oils and tempera, although he is principally remembered for his remarkable graphic art....
. In the autumn of 1913 Gecan moved to Munich, where he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
Academy of Fine Arts, Munich
The Academy of Fine Arts, Munich was founded 1808 by Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria in Munich as the "Royal Academy of Fine Arts" and is one of the oldest and most significant art academies in Germany...
, as well as Heymann's private painting school.
At the beginning of the First World War, Gecan was drafted. At the Battle of Soči in July of 1915, he was captured and spent the rest of the war in prisoner-of war camps on Sicily.
In 1919, he went to Prague with Milivoj Uzelac. That same year, they exhibited at the Zagreb Spring Salon, and later as part of the Group of Four (Gecan, Trepše, Uzelac, Varlaj). In 1921 Gecan held his first solo exhibition at the Art Pavilion. In 1922 he went to Berlin, where he studied stained glass techniques, and in 1924-28 he spent time in the United States (New York, Chicago). While there, he attended exhibitions of modern art, seeing the works of Cézanne and Picasso. In 1928, he stayed for a brief time in Paris with Uzelac.
By 1931, Gecan experienced the first symptoms of Parkinson's disease, a tremor in his right hand that would become stronger, increasingly hindering his ability to paint. In 1932, he returned to Zagreb, where he organized a solo exhibition in the Salon Ulrich. In 1935, aged 41, he enrolled in the Academy of Fine Arts, Zagreb, in order to formally earn his academic degree.
In 1964, a retrospective of his work was held at the Modern Gallery
Modern Gallery, Zagreb
Modern Gallery is a museum in Zagreb, Croatia that holds the most important and comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings by 19th and 20th century Croatian artists. The collection numbers around 10,000 works of art, housed since 1934 in the historic Vranyczany Palace in the...
in Zagreb. In 1967 he received the Vladimir Nazor Award
Vladimir Nazor award
The Vladimir Nazor Award is an annual award given by the Croatian Ministry of Culture to Croatian artists for highest achievements in various artistic fields. It was established in 1959 and is named after the notable writer Vladimir Nazor...
for lifetime achievement. In 1972, a further retrospective of Gecan's work was held at the Art Pavilion
Art Pavilion
The Art Pavilion in Zagreb is an art gallery in Zagreb, Croatia. The Pavilion is located in the Lower Town area of the city, south of Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square and just north of the King Tomislav Square with the Main Train Station...
.
Vilko Gecan died on 25 June 1973 in Zagreb.
Legacy
In the autumn of 1919, Gecan moved to Prague, joining Milivoj Uzelac, Vladimir Varlaj, Marijan TrepšeMarijan Trepše
Marijan Trepše was a Croatian painter, graphic artist and set designer, considered to be one of the key figures in Croatian art in the early part of the 20th century. In 1919 the seventh exhibition of the Spring Salon opened at the Crafts school in Zagreb...
, Ivo Režek and Frano Kršinić
Frano Kršinić
Frano Kršinić was a renowned Croatian sculptor. Along with Ivan Meštrović and Antun Augustinčić he is considered one of the three most important Croatian sculptors of the 20th century...
. Together they made the city an important reference for Croatian modern art. There, they picked up the new ideas of secessionism and expressionism, which they brought back to Croatian art.
Gecan's most important works were produced in the 1920s and 30s. By 1921 the beginnings of expressionism were evident in his paintings and drawings. Miroslav Kraljević
Miroslav Kraljevic
Miroslav Kraljević was a Croatian painter, printmaker and sculptor, active in the early part of the 20th century. He is one of the founders of modern art in Croatia....
's legacy shows in the Klinik (Clinic) cycle, where cubism combined with realism and intense colour. His later work tended to be calmer, with less tension, more art deco stylization.
Gecan's early work shows free movement and the character stylization that would develop into his signature style. It is known that the first exhibition of Miroslav Kraljević
Miroslav Kraljevic
Miroslav Kraljević was a Croatian painter, printmaker and sculptor, active in the early part of the 20th century. He is one of the founders of modern art in Croatia....
's work in 1912 at the Ulrich Gallery in Zagreb had a significant impact on both Gecan and Uzelac. Gecan continued his education in Munich in 1913, where he broadened his artistic horizons. Gecan's war experience in prisoner-of-war camps had a lasting effect on him. His "Clinic" cycle of 1920, considered a masterpiece of Croatian expressionism, was based on a clinic in Prague, where Gecan was treated for kidney disease. But the paintings depict something closer to a mental hospital with dark characterisations, unsettling black and white rhythms, strange elongated figures, - enclosed spaces with strange characters trapped in them. His experiences in the camps permeated are key to understanding his paintings over the next few years. His uses of visual tension creates a state of anxiety.
At the Spring Salon of 1921, Gecan exhibited the painting "Cinik" (The Cynic), which is now considered the most important work of Croatian Expressionist painting. This image derives from cubist and expressionist styles, symbolizing the world as a stage, and marked deformation of character. A young man in a red suit and bow tie sits at an oversized table with a shifted perspective that is tilted towards the viewer. He is reading Der Sturm, a newspaper that was known to promote expressionist art. The man in the picture is Gecan himself, who at the time was 27 years old. He looks cramped and awkward, the body language suggesting some inner turmoil, while the facial expression is a grimace.
Gecan's later paintings show a broader understanding of style and echoes of cubism, specifically the stylization of art deco. Unfortunately, his artistic development slowed as the symptoms of Parkison's disease took hold. After spending some years in the United States, his work became softer, with a more conventional realism, and he created many still lifes and landscapes.
Paintings
- Mlinovi (Mills), 1919
- Self-portrait, 1920
- Ropstvo u Siciliji (Slavery in Sicily),1921
- Pejzažu (Landscape), 1921
- Portret Anuška Micić, 1921
- Cinik (The Cynic, Self-portrait), 1921
- Nove vijesti (News), 1922
- Kod rada (At Work)
- U krčmi (In the Tavern), 1922
- Kod stola (At the Table), 1923
- Self-portrait, 1923
- Portret Dr. Piskulica, 1928
Graphical Illustrations
- Pobuna (Rebellion), 1914
- Dr. Dorić
- Bijesni (Angry)
- Gentelmen
- Glava (Head), 1920
- Klinik cycle (Clinic), 1921
- Advertising Poster for a Shipping Company (1928)
Exhibitions
During his lifetime, Vilko Gecan held many solo exhibitions as well as participating in the Zagreb Spring Salon, and with the Group of Four.Solo Exhibitions
Recent exhibitions of his work include:- 2005 Vilko Gecan retrospektiva, Art PavilionArt PavilionThe Art Pavilion in Zagreb is an art gallery in Zagreb, Croatia. The Pavilion is located in the Lower Town area of the city, south of Nikola Šubić Zrinski Square and just north of the King Tomislav Square with the Main Train Station...
Zagreb - 1972 Vilko Gecan retrospektiva, Art Pavilion, Zagreb
- 1964 Vilko Gecan retrospektiva, Modern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery, ZagrebModern Gallery is a museum in Zagreb, Croatia that holds the most important and comprehensive collection of paintings, sculptures and drawings by 19th and 20th century Croatian artists. The collection numbers around 10,000 works of art, housed since 1934 in the historic Vranyczany Palace in the...
Group Exhibitions
- 2011 Passion and rebellion: Expressionism in Croatia, Klovićevi dvori, Zagreb
- 2007-2008 100 Prime Works Of Croatian Artists From The Collections Of The National Museum In Belgrade, Art Pavilion, Zagreb
- 2007 Iz fundusa galerije - Museum of Modern Art, Dubrovnik
- 2006 Croatian Collection - Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje
Public Collections
Vilko Gecan's work can be found in the following public collectionsCroatia
- Filip Trade CollectionFilip Trade CollectionThe Filip Trade Collection is a large private collection of contemporary Croatian art. The collection is a subsidiary of Filip Trade, a distribution company with its offices located in the capital city of Croatia, Zagreb...
- Museum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebMuseum of Contemporary Art, ZagrebThe Museum of Contemporary Art is a contemporary art museum located on Dubrovnik Avenue in Zagreb, Croatia. It is the biggest and most modern museum in the country....
- Gallery of Fine Arts, SplitGallery of Fine Arts, SplitThe Gallery of Fine Arts , is an art museum in Split, Croatia containing works from 14th century up to the present day providing an overview of the artistic developments in the local art scene...
- Museum of Modern Art, Dubrovnik
Macedonia
- Museum of Contemporary Art, Skopje