Jan Zrzavý (1890–1977) ranks among the most important and distinctive representatives of Czech modern art of the 20th century. He was a painter, graphic artist, illustrator and stage designer who developed a highly individual artistic world that cannot be easily assigned to a single movement. His work grew out of Symbolism and gradually absorbed influences from modern European painting, Neoclassicism and Magic Realism. Characteristic of his art is an extraordinary ability to reduce reality to pure, almost archetypal forms and to create an atmosphere of tranquillity, melancholy and dreamlike timelessness through a few lines and areas of colour. France and especially Italy became important sources of inspiration for Zrzavý, with Venice occupying an exceptional position in his oeuvre. His work is an integral part of the history of Czech modern art and remains highly sought after by collectors. The exceptionally appealing colour lithograph Venetian Still Life from 1961 represents one of Jan Zrzavý’s most distinctive graphic works and is listed as opus 30 in his graphic oeuvre. The composition combines several motifs characteristic of Zrzavý’s artistic world – Venice, architecture, boats and a poetically stylised still life. The central element is a monumental glass vase with a plant, flanked by an imaginary Venetian scene. Two small sailing boats in blue and purple introduce the motifs of water and travel, while stylised architectural elements recalling Venetian towers and sacred buildings rise at the sides. Zrzavý reduces the individual objects to elementary forms and arranges them into a perfectly balanced system of lines and colour fields. The delicate pastel palette of blue, green, brick red, pink and turquoise gives the scene its characteristic dreamlike atmosphere. The strict geometry of the paving in the foreground contrasts with the organic form of the plant and the soft lines of the boats. The entire composition is simultaneously decorative, meditative and exceptionally harmonious. Venice represented an important source of inspiration for Zrzavý, who repeatedly returned to its architecture and atmosphere throughout his career. Venetian Still Life is listed in the catalogue of Zrzavý’s graphic works as opus 30 from 1961 and is described as the artist’s largest graphic sheet, with a printed area measuring 32 × 48 cm. The offered example comes from a limited edition of 200, numbered 145/200 and hand-signed in pencil lower right Jan Zrzavý. The work is in excellent condition, mounted, framed and glazed. Provenance: extensive private Moravian collection. CURATOR’S TIP: Venetian Still Life is an exceptionally successful example of Jan Zrzavý’s graphic oeuvre. Several iconic motifs of the artist’s world are concentrated within a single sheet – Venice, boats, architecture, dreamlike colour and a perfectly balanced composition. Its status as the artist’s largest graphic sheet, together with the limited edition, numbering and hand signature, significantly enhances its collector appeal. FOR INVESTORS: Jan Zrzavý ranks among the most important and consistently sought-after figures of Czech modern art. Particularly attractive aspects of this sheet include its precise identification as Venetian Still Life, 1961, opus 30, the limited edition of 200 examples, the artist’s hand signature and the importance of the composition within his graphic oeuvre. This particular example, numbered 145/200, has previously appeared on the auction market at a price of CZK 125,000. The new starting price of only CZK 40,000 is therefore exceptionally attractive and represents less than one third of its previous auction price, making this lot a particularly interesting opportunity for collectors and investors.