František Bílek: Entrance to the Temple Vestibule 2. 7. 2024 – 1. 6. 2026
Curator: Hana Larvová
The exhibition showcases the early works of Art Nouveau Symbolist František Bílek (1872–1941).
His sculptures, drawings, prints, artist’s books, and texts from that time convey Bílek’s unique interpretation of Christianity, rooted in a mystical world of symbols and allegories. Central to understanding Bílek’s spirituality are two of his seminal artist’s books from this period: Building the Future Temple in Us (1908) and The Journey (1909). These works reflect Bílek’s experiences during his study in Paris in the early 1890s, particularly influenced by the esoteric and then-popular book by French philosopher and essayist Édouard Schuré, Les Grands Initiés / The Great Initiates: A Study of the Secret History of Religions (1889), published in Paris in 1889. The resulting intricate mosaic of religious syncretism, which became the backbone of Bílek’s entire work, was most authentically expressed during this time.
