Town III 1958

Jirí Balcar created this etching, called Town III, in 1958. The inky darkness of this townscape evokes the mood of post-war Czechoslovakia. The strong shadows and towering buildings seem to bear down on the pedestrians below, all rendered in heavy strokes of black ink. Looking at this print, one can imagine the physical reality of the city, but also the psychological experience of living in a place burdened by the recent past and an uncertain future. Balcar made this print twelve years after the end of World War II, and ten years after the Communist coup d'état. Balcar belonged to the Czech intelligentsia, and his work reflects on the role of the artist in a rapidly changing society. We can research the history of Czechoslovakia in this period through archives, newspapers and historical accounts. By studying the social and institutional context, we can better understand the power of art to challenge or reflect existing social norms.