Anka Krizmanić
Bridge in Karlovac
1943
oil, canvas
45,5 x 58,6 cm (67 x 81 cm)
inv. br. MG-1208

Anka Krizmanić (1896-1987) attended Tomislav Krizman’s private painting school (1910-13) at the age of fourteen and she exhibited with Medulić Group. She studied at Kunstgewerbeschule in Dresden (1913-17) where she was introduced to lithography, modern dance and Expressionism and in Paris during her study stay (1920-30). Her work consisted of made paintings, graphic arts, tapestries, fashion design and sketches for puppet theater.

Prior to World War II and then again from 1946 to 1951, she worked as illustrator at the Faculty of Medicine at the Institute for Anatomy. She was a member of the Association of Fine Artists of Croatia (ULUH) from 1945. Her Complete Catalogue of Works, in which she wrote down all her works since 1908, concluded with the number 5761 in 1971. Her retrospective exhibition was held in Zagreb in 1986.

“Bridge in Karlovac” from 1943 was created during the period when the artist lived in Karlovac during the wartime with the German painter Ludwig Weninger, painting landscapes in Karlovac and the surrounding towns. In it we see the influence of her Dresden schooling, especially by Margaret Junge who encouraged Anka to pain in plein air. Nature left a big mark on her and Anka brought back magical realism to Croatian Art - represented by landscapes in big dimensions, monumental forms, clear constructions and deep green hues.

Text: Stella Baki, curator / museum educator at the National Museum of Modern Art Zagreb
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb