Vincent Hložník

An Expressionist of the war generation and one of the most prolific Slovak illustrators — he illustrated more than a hundred books. Born in Svederník near Žilina, he studied at the Prague School of Applied Arts under František Kysela (1937 – 1942), where he was struck by the work of Cyprián Majerník and their shared theme of Don Quixote; his first exhibition was held in 1942 at the House of Art in Bratislava. He was a member of Mánes (1945 – 1949) and a founding member of the Group of Fine Artists of 29 August.

In 1952 – 1972 he taught at the Academy of Fine Arts in Bratislava — in 1960 – 1964 as its rector — and raised a generation of printmakers headed by Albín Brunovský; in 1972 he was forced to leave the school for political reasons. His painting, prints and sculpture on the human condition carry a strong humanist charge; in 2009 his family donated 799 of his works to the Žilina Region, and they form the permanent exhibition of the Považie Gallery of Art.