Tag: Oton Iveković

Oton Iveković, Woodcutters, 1909

Oton Iveković
Woodcutters, 1909
oil on canvas
120.5 x 120 cm
MG-373

Oton Iveković (1869 – 1939) studied painting in Zagreb under Ferdo Quiquerez, and later, in 1886, continued his education in Vienna with Christian Griepenkerl and August Eisenmenger. He further advanced his studies in Munich with Wilhelm von Lindenschmit and in Karlsruhe with Ferdinand von Keller. Iveković worked as a drawing teacher at Zagreb Realgymnasium, then at the School of Crafts from 1895, and later at the Academy from 1908. In the same year, he was elected president of the Lada Art Association. He travelled extensively throughout Croatia, Italy, Germany, and America, and during World War I, he served as a military painter. Alongside Menci Clement Crnčić, he is regarded as one of the most significant representatives of historical painting in Croatia, especially in the context of national inspiration. In his later years, he retired to Veliki Tabor in Croatian Zagorje.
In a square format, the centre of the painting features two woodcutters at work. The scene is set in a wintry forest environment, with snow and bare tree trunks. The colour palette is silvery-grey and white, with subtle hints of brown and deep burgundy. The realistic portrayal, reminiscent of Gustave Courbet (1819–1877), almost evokes a sense of social engagement. This distinctive quality, combined with the skill and mastery evident in his painting technique (particularly in the landscape), further reinforces the intriguing, thought-provoking and dynamic complexity of Iveković’s artistic expression, inviting new and bold interpretations that challenge established notions of his work.

Text: Marta Radman, curator of the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by: Marta Radman
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb

Oton Iveković, Paklenica Valley on Velebit, 1912

Oton Iveković
Paklenica Valley on Velebit, 1912
oil on canvas
172.5x 109.8 cm
MG-381

Oton Iveković (1869 – 1939) initially studied painting in Zagreb with Ferdo Quiquerez, before moving to Vienna in 1886 to study under Christian Griepenkerl and August Eisenmenger. He then continued his education in Munich with Wilhelm von Lindenschmit and in Karlsruhe under Ferdinand von Keller. Iveković worked as a drawing teacher at the Realgymnasium in Zagreb, before taking a position at the School of Crafts in 1895, and later at the School of Arts (later the Academy) from 1908 onwards. In the same year, he was elected president of the Lada art association. He travelled extensively across Croatia, Italy, Germany, and America, and during World War I, he served as a military painter. Alongside Menci Clement Crnčić, he is regarded as one of the foremost figures in historical painting in Croatia, particularly works inspired by national themes. In his later years, he withdrew to Veliki Tabor in Hrvatsko Zagorje.
The vertical format of the painting Paklenica Valley on Velebit enhances the impression of a rocky gorge, through which a group of figures moves in the valley: at the forefront, two riders in more ornate clothing are mounted on horses, followed at a short distance by infantry soldiers in grey medieval armour, which merge with the hues of the surrounding rocks. The vegetation is sparse, reinforcing the sense of military and wartime harshness. This is further heightened by the prevailing grey tones of the bare stone, which are reflected in the grey-blue hues of the sky. The scene is painted in clear daylight, establishing an atmosphere of a cold, frosty light.

Text: Ivana Rončević Elezović PhD, museum consultant of the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by: Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb

Oton Iveković, Interesting Reading, 1901

Oton Iveković
Interesting Reading, 1901
oil on canvas
70 x 50 cm
MG-389

Oton Iveković (1869–1939) studied painting in Zagreb under Ferdo Quiquerez, then from 1886 in Vienna under Christian Griepenkerl and August Eisenmenger, and finally in Munich under Wilhelm von Lindenschmit and in Karlsruhe under Ferdinand von Keller. He worked as a drawing teacher at a grammar school in Zagreb, from 1895 at the School of Crafts and from 1908 at the College of Arts (today’s Academy of Fine Arts). In 1908, he was elected as president of the Lada Croatian Artists’ Association. He travelled across Croatia, Italy, Germany and the USA, and during World War I he worked as a war painter. Along with Menci Clement Crnčić, Iveković is considered as one of the most prominent representatives of historical painting in Croatia, particularly inspired by national sentiment. Towards the end of his life, he retired to Veliki Tabor Castle in the region of Hrvatsko Zagorje.
The vertical composition depicts a genre scene of a girl reading while seated on a garden bench, shaded by the tree canopy. She holds a book with a red cover in her hands. Her left arm, bent at the elbow, hangs loosely by her side, while her right arm rests on the bench’s back. The red accent of the book in the upper part of the painting is echoed by the red flowers in pots in the lower part, creating a complementary contrast to the green foliage in the background.
The painting is created with a blotchy technique and light colours in plein air, giving it an almost Impressionistic feel. The red accents are prominent among the green, brown, and yellowish hues of the garden, bench, and plant pots, as is the blue-and-white contrast of the girl’s dress. The central elements of the girl, bench, and plant pots form a triangle within the garden scene, providing stability to the composition.

Text: PhD Ivana Rončević Elezović, museum consultant of the National Museum of Modern Art © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb
Translated by: Robertina Tomić
Photo: Goran Vranić © National Museum of Modern Art, Zagreb