LANDSCAPE 1976

Jaroslav Keluc painted this landscape using oil on canvas. Keluc was born in the former Austro-Hungarian Empire in 1905, living through immense political change. His personal experiences of historical upheaval shaped his approach to painting, capturing the quiet beauty of the natural world as perhaps an escape from political and social unrest. The scene shows an idyllic countryside, the rolling hills and vibrant wildflowers creating a sense of peace and abundance. Yet, painted in the 20th century, we cannot separate this landscape from the violent century it was created in. This work evokes nostalgia, perhaps for a time before war, before borders were redrawn. It invites us to reflect on the relationship between the land and our identities, and how art can offer both solace and a critical lens through which we view our history.