The small scale artwork ´The Curve´ by M.A. Bazovský (oil on hardboard, 1949) captures the scenery of the countryside in Orava region (northern Slovakia) in which the artist found the inspiration for his artistic expression. Bazovský decided to come to this beautiful region after overcoming a serious illness, which affected him emotionally and motivated him to produce the artworks of meditative character and supertemporal works with pholosophical background dealing with life and death, humbleness and confession. His studio in Leštiny saved him from the depressive thoughts (1948-49). He painted landscapes, tranquil and poetically explored village environment, e.g.: ´Solitude Leštiny´ (oil, 1948-49, Nitra Gallery collection) with an antique church which technique corresponds to the one used in ´The Curve´. The composition of the painting is ranging from cubism to expressionism, slightly overequipped with architectural pattern and dominated by gentle structures of colourful scale of earthly, green darkly contoured images, characteristic of the author. From the monotonous, calm colouristic composition there are two attributes attracting the viewer´s attention – warm, gold sun, the symbol of life and re-discovered peace and a wooden crucifix placed in between the houses, the symbol of hope and religion. In the postwar years these were very important attributes for overcoming the severe memories, for the rebirth of the power of optimistic thinking.
The road, curve with milestones, leading along the village is vanishing on the countryside horizon. It is a symbol of looking to a new future, a challenge to walk forward and crossing the river, the everyday reality of a man.
Miloš Alexander Bazovský was a unique phenomenon in the Slovak visual culture. He was a painter with an unusual visual imagination, deep emotions and individual artistic expression. In the constant confrontation with the world art scene he managed – by means of new expressive forms – to achieve deeper baladic formation of the Slovak reality than any other of the contemporary painters.
The painter, drawer and graphic artist M.A. Bazovský was born on January 11, 1899 in Turany n. Váhom into the family of a teacher, editor and translator Koloman Bazovský. In 1909-10 he studied at the state secondary grammar school in Budapest. Because of not satisfying results he opted to transfer to another school in Vrútky, Slovakia and in 1913-16 continued with his studies at the state trade school under guidance of Prof. I. Réti. After Czechoslovakia was formed he left for Prague and studied at the Academy of Fine Arts at various studios (Laukota, Bukovac, Pirner, Obravska, Švabinksy) in 1919-24. In 1921 he stayed at the Academy in Vienna. After graduating from the Academy in Prague he began searching for his own artistic expression, which he wanted to find especially in the domestic Slovak environmnet, in the country and in its people. To picture not only the colours of his native region, but also to bring near the common village man at his happy, sorrowful and festive moments in the figural compositions. From analytical exploration of the reality turned Bazovský to the syntetic view and was formed his artistic personality in such process. The topics for his creation are human with a moral undertone. The important medium in Bazovský´s work was colour which gained constatly a great intensity. At the end of his life he used to talk about his ´delirium colorans´ in a funny way. Bazovský portrayed in his rich artwork of the last years of his life the vanishing archaic Slovakia.
He was awarded many different important titles and awards.
1961 the merited artist
1964 the national artist
His work was presented at almost 100 solo exhibitions in Slovakia and abroad.
Miloš Alexander Bazovský died on December 15, 1968 in Trenčín.
Marta Hučková
Inventory No.: O-289
Artist: Miloš Alexander Bazovský
Title: The Curve
Year of origin: 1949
Technique: oil
Material: hardboard
Dimensions: 32,5 × 45 cm
Signature: in bottom left corner: M.A.B., brush