Illustration for Vyšehrad 

Artuš Scheiner created this illustration for Vyšehrad using an unknown medium. The image seems steeped in Czech nationalism, referencing the ancient castle of Vyšehrad, a symbol of Czech history and sovereignty. The figures, rendered in a stylized, almost ethereal manner, evoke a sense of legend and folklore, common sources of artistic inspiration for nationalistic movements. The woman’s words which accompany the image point to a mythic narrative, which can be related to the broader cultural context of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a period marked by a rise in national romanticism across Europe. Artists frequently turned to their nation's past, its myths and legends, to forge a sense of collective identity and cultural pride. To fully understand this illustration, we would need to delve into Czech folklore, literature, and political history of the time, seeking out the cultural references embedded within the image and connecting them to the wider social and political landscape.