Street At The Time When Women Go To Sleep 1943

František Hudeček made this watercolor painting, “Street At The Time When Women Go To Sleep,” at an unknown date. Though Hudeček was associated with Group 42, a Czech artistic association that sought to honestly depict the reality of urban life, this is no simple street scene. The female figures in the windows seem to represent the secret, interior lives of women, normally hidden from the view of men on the street. As such, it may be considered an early work of feminist art. It is important to remember that the Surrealist movement, which aimed to liberate thought, language, and human experience from the oppressive boundaries of reason, was influential in Czechoslovakia, and it can be seen in Hudeček’s work here. In studying art, it is crucial to consider its social context. Using resources like manifestos of art groups and political movements can help us understand it better. Art is more than just aesthetics; it reflects the society that creates it.