I took the liberty of bringing a little of our country's national cultural wealth to our news website. This magnificent work has been more than 17 years in the making. Alfons Mucha traveled through the Slavic countries to absorb all the essential factors, or rather roots, as he says, and could thus give an account of how rich the Czech nation is. I therefore believe that when else should we think about this national treasure as topically as today. I wish you all a wonderful experience, and I also hope that it will enrich you spiritually. Every week we will feature one of Mucha's paintings from this rare and extraordinary cycle.
An introductory word from the creator of the Slav Epic himself
"...as early as 1900 I resolved to devote the second half of my life to work which would help to build and strengthen the feeling of national consciousness in us.
I am convinced that the development of any nation can only continue successfully if it grows organically and continuously from its own roots, and that knowledge of its historical past is essential to preserve this continuity.
In literature we have beautiful works which put before the nation - the people - the course of our history - now glorious - now sad.
Even in music, symphonies and cycles relating to our history awaken love for the homeland through art. I wanted to speak in my own way to the soul of the nation, to the physical miracle that most quickly brings impressions to consciousness.
The image has an aggressive effect, I would say: it penetrates the soul with an open eye, regardless. It is up to the observer to do with it as he pleases. He may pass over it without admitting it to his consciousness, or, seduced by the work's exterior, he may stop before it and perhaps even search for its content and meaning, and finally find in it the kernel, either of beauty or of truth, for which it has arisen.
This work, now completed, I considered my duty. The accomplishment of so great a work without material means was impossible.
A friend of mine, Mr. Charles R. Crane, who, though an American, has a great love for Slavonic studies, understood my aspirations and helped to realize my dream. In 1910, in Chicago, we agreed that he would help to bear the cost of my work, which would be given to the city of Prague as a gift.
I have seen in all the pictures of everything that might resemble the austere disputes and the blood shed in the disputes.
The purpose of my work has never been to tear down, but always to build, to build bridges, for we must all be nourished by the hope that all humanity will come together, and all the more easily if they know each other well.
I shall be happy if I am allowed to contribute my modest strength to this knowledge - at least for the time being in our Slavic family."
Prague 1928, Alfons Mucha
Editor-in-Chief gnews.cz/Jan Vojtěch
https://mk-epopej-pruvodce.netlify.app/dospely/uvod
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