Skicár 1930 - 1935

Arnold Peter Weisz-Kubínčan created this watercolour, titled ‘Skicár’, at an unknown date. The Slovakian artist was born in 1898 and died in 1944. From what we know of Weisz-Kubínčan, we can guess at some of the social forces that might have shaped this sketch. He was a Jewish artist living in Europe during a period of rising antisemitism and persecution, and was eventually murdered at Auschwitz. His work, though not overtly political, can be seen in the context of the modernist art movements which flourished despite the oppression of authoritarian regimes in the early 20th century. Understanding the history of Slovakian art institutions, the cultural context of Jewish life in Europe, and the development of modernism helps us appreciate the complex forces at play in this deceptively simple image.