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