Untitled 

Albin Brunovsky made this intriguing, untitled drawing in an unknown year. It shows a mountain consumed by an enormous vortex. The work was made in Czechoslovakia, a country that experienced great political upheaval throughout Brunovsky's lifetime. His work can be seen as a response to the social and political climate of his time, in which the artist's role in society was often debated. Brunovsky walked a fine line between state-sponsored art and a more critical, individualistic approach. He produced designs for postage stamps and banknotes for the communist regime, while his more personal works reflected the surreal, dreamlike quality of artists such as Goya. The apocalyptic imagery in this drawing could well reflect the artist's fears about the state of the world. Understanding Brunovsky's art requires that we look at the way the artist navigated the complex social and institutional landscape in which he worked. By examining his diverse body of work, we can gain a deeper appreciation of the cultural history of the former Czechoslovakia.