Published by Czech Graphics Union, Prague, 1940 in Czech with 208 black-and-white plates

This page is dedicated to Karel Plicka - a once-famous virtuoso of black-and-white photography, an early 20^th century Czech artist, the "Ansel Adams" of Czechoslovakia.

Born in 1894 During his career, Plicka published several photography collections. Among them are:
Prague in Pictures (Praha ve fotografii), Czech Graphics Union, Prague, 1940,
Beautiful Motherland (Vlast Libezna), xxxx, Prague, 19xx,
The Prague Castle (Prazsky Hrad), Orbis, Prague, 1962,
Vltava, Orbis, Prague, 1965,
Czechoslovakia (Ceskoslovensko), Orbis, Prague, 1974,
Walks in Prague (Prochazky Prahou) xxxx, Prague, 19xx, with Emanuel Poche,
Slovakia (Slovensko) Artia, Prague, 1959.

His urban photography shows Prague in an unparalleled and extraordinary view. His work is an incarnation of medieval, renaissance, baroque, neo-classical, empire, art nouveau and cubist motifs. In his work Prague speaks a language of ancient mystique, stunning expression and captivating realism.

During his lifelong career Plicka published several major works. The photographs on this page are examples of his urban works taken from the 1940 edition of "Prague." This work is a collection of black-and-white photographs from the first half of the 20^th century. Among the seemingly inexhaustible wealth of sights this ancient city offers, in Plicka's "Prague." one will find unique sights discovered only by his keen eye, as well as touristy ones that nonetheless seem quite unique through the lens of his camera. Last not least, notice the extraordinary lighting he achieves in his pictures.

Esthetically, every one of his pictures speaks of the special attention the artist paid to avoid those structures and sights he considered debased or showing Prague's moral devastation during the Nazi occupation of WWII. Plicka's work thus becomes more than a documentary of reality of the 1930s and 40s. His photography is a testament of his artistic soul, its tremendous strive to protect and purify what is uniquely embodied in the atmosphere of this ancient city.

Even a native inhabitanmt of Prague would not recognize many of the views shown here. They are like a mirage shrouded in a supernatural legend, a web of dreams.

Beside such lyric phrases, though, one cannot help but wonder about more practical matters: about all the winding alleys, hidden alcoves and narrow walkways Plicka tumbles upon during his quest for that perfect shot; from what ledges or dark corners does he aim his lens. Because of all this, the artist manages to instill an aura of immortality to the mundane, and spiritual uniqueness to the ephemeral, albeit stone, beauty. One wonders about the fleeting moments during which he invents the enchanting charm so typical of his work.

Adopted from sleeve text in the 1940 edition of Prague in Pictures: Czech Graphics Union A.S. in Prague.

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