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Hana Wichterlová

1903 - 1990

Hana Wichterlová (1903 – 1990) was born in Prostějov into a successful family of agricultural machinery and automobile manufacturers. Her family was friends with the architect Jan Kotěra who, from 1905 to 1907, designed and built the Prostějov National House – a magnificent exemplification of the Czech Secession style of architecture. Kotěra suggested to the family that the artistically gifted Hana should study art. At the age of 16 she entered the Prague academy of art (AVU), where, from 1919 to 1925, she studied sculpture under Jan Štursa. Her contemporaries in the class included Josef Wagner and Vincenc Makovský. Her studies at AVU culminated with a sculpture entitled Údiv (Astonishment) , a significant figurative work, which places her in the forefront of Czech modern sculpture. From 1926 to 1930 she lived and studied in Paris, where she joined classes held by Frantisek Kupka. Whilst, in Paris she created a series of five works; continued in 1932 with a sculpture entitled Pupen (The bud). Pupen ranks amongst the most significant examples of Czech plastic arts from the interwar years. The opus springs from the deep interest the artist shows in nature, which together with a meditativeness derived from eastern philosophy, illuminates the major part of her works. During the 50s she carved two significant heads: Černá Hlava – Black Head (1955) and Vivekananda (1956-58). Works from the 60s and the 70s, such as: Pecka – Stone (1964), Lusk – Husk (1967), and Jádro – Core (1976), pick up on the natural motifs of the years before the Great War. A special position amongst the artist’s works is occupied by the unfinished sculpture, Mahulena (1955-1990), representing a symbiosis of tree and female form: head and arms are carved, but the body and hair are made from tree bark; the severe vertical statement of the trunk being poetically softened by the girl’s face.

“Mahulena”, a sophisticated assemblage of natural details and modeled parts has become a logo of the Prostějov Sculptural Symposia. Very special thanks must go to

Acknowledgments:
MUDr. Linda Wichterlová and Mgr. Alena Wichterlová fro their permission to use this work as the symposium logo, for family mementos and their memories of madam Hana Wichterlová.