Plavec 1914

"Plavec" (Swimmer) is a 1914 painting by Czech artist Josef Čapek, known for his Cubist and Constructivist style. Čapek's iconic abstract figure, composed of geometric shapes and flat planes of color, depicts a swimmer against a background of blue waves. The stark simplicity and geometric forms of the figure, which evokes a sense of movement and energy, are hallmarks of Čapek's art. The painting is a powerful example of how Čapek transformed the human form into a dynamic and abstract composition. This work demonstrates the evolution of Čapek’s artistic approach, which explored the reduction of subjects to their essential geometric forms.