Czech culture is a global phenomenon of immense significance and full gravitas. According to certain metrics, where the annual cultural program is compiled from the very best of national cultural wealth—meaning filling theaters with authors of Czech and Slovak plays, composers, actors, opera singers, ballet, and the philharmonic orchestra—it also encompasses contributions to literature, visual arts, visual photography, film, sculpture, and fashion design. Our design also influences the development of various styles worldwide in architecture, craftsmanship, folklore, customs, traditions, holidays, rituals, local gastronomy, and its regional diversity. Simply put, everything that culture contains. We thus rank between seventh and tenth among all cultural powers in the world, moving across Italy, France, Russia, England, Germany, and Spain. Let us therefore recall who and what the Czech and Slovak nations gave to the world.
The Foundation of Cultural Identity is Language
A nation cannot be called a nation until it has its own national language, which is the foundation of cultural development. The foundation of our language is Greek and Latin, with a small portion from German, but absolutely fundamental to the Czech language is Russian (Old Church Slavonic). Then a little is added from French expressions, and everything is demolished by the English language. But I have taken this very much for granted. I cannot fail to mention the similarity between Czech and Slovak. The mutual intelligibility of both languages is estimated at 95%. Their dialects create a linguistic continuum, i.e., a smooth transition between them.
In interwar Czechoslovakia (1918–1938), in the spirit of the politics of that time, Czech and Slovak were considered two literary variants of one language. After all, much more is encoded in every national language. It determines penetration by other cultures and nations. It can enrich them or dominate them. And I do not go into the details of the influence of the current English language on the Czech language, which, in my opinion, crushes Czech to disbelief.
Literature as the National Flag
The beginnings of Czech literature are connected with the activity of the philosopher Constantine and his brother Methodius on Great Moravia. Together with their students, they created, in Old Church Slavonic, the first Czech literary monuments (Proglas, Life of Methodius, Life of Constantine). After the expulsion of this group from Moravia, Latin began to play a key role, especially Kosmas' Chronicle. The first significant texts written in Czech were the Alexanderiad and Dalimil's Chronicle. The first authors who wrote in Czech and achieved world fame were also Jan Hus, one of the founders of the European Reformation, and Jan Amos Comenius, the most significant representative of humanism in Czech literature. Not only under the consequences of the Battle of the White Mountain did the retreat of Czech stop, until the national revival, which began at the end of the 18th century.
The key figure of the first stage of the national revival was the linguist Josef Dobrovský. In the second stage, it was Josef Jungmann, who emphasized the linguistic concept of the nation. The process culminated in the third stage, when František Palacký and Karel Havlíček Borovský completed the concept of the Czech nation politically, and when the peak works of literature emerged, whether poetic—Karel Havlíček Borovský, Karel Hynek Mácha, Karel Jaromír Erben, prose by Božena Němcová, or theatrical by Josef Kajetán Tyl, Karel Sabina. In the second half of the 19th century, literary life began to develop rapidly, with groups forming with various programs—the May Poets Jan Neruda, Vítězslav Hálek, Jakub Arbes, the Ruch Poets Svatopluk Čech, the Lumírovci such as Jaroslav Vrchlický, Julius Zeyer, the realists Alois Jirásek, Czech modernism Antonín Sova, Otokar Březina.
In the first half of the 20th century, Czech-speaking creators also gained worldwide significance, particularly Jaroslav Hašek, and Karel Čapek. The leftist avant-garde was also strong, which gathered in the association Devětsil, which initially focused on proletarian poetry, later devised the direction of poetism, and eventually most authors moved towards surrealism. A member of Devětsil was also Jaroslav Seifert, the only Czech to date to be awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1984. Other notable members included Jiří Wolker, Vítězslav Nezval, Vladislav Vančura, František Halas, and Karel Teige.
Czech Theatre and Its Beginnings
Czech theatre has its roots in the Middle Ages. The oldest surviving dramatic work using Czech is a fragment of a Czech-Latin play from the 14th century, usually called Mastičkář. In the 19th century, theatre played a significant role in the national revival (Václav Kliment Klicpera, Josef Kajetán Tyl). The emancipatory efforts of the Czech nation in the second half of the 19th century were expressed by the opening of the National Theatre in Prague in 1883.
Since then, the National Theatre has presented both operas and dramas. In the 1890s, European literary trends penetrated Czech theatre, particularly realism, represented by Ladislav Stroupežnický, especially with his village comedy Naši furianti, and later especially the Mrštíkoví brothers with their Maryša. Gabriela Preissová also brought strong themes to Czech stages (Gazdina roba, Její pastorkyňa). For this modern drama, the director Jaroslav Kvapil fought, who also presented himself as a playwright (Princezna Pampeliška).
In the first half of the 20th century, avant-garde theatre developed, represented by the Osvobozené divadlo of Jiří Voskovce and Jana Wericha, or Emile František Burian, Jiří Frejka, Jindřich Honzlem, or Jiří Mahen. On world stages, the plays of Karel Čapek (R.U.R., Věc Makropulos) or František Langer (Periférie) were most successful. In the second half of the 20th century, small-form theatres developed such as Semafor (Jiří Suchý and Jiří Šlitr), theatre Na zábradlí (Jan Grossman, Ivan Vyskočil), Činoherní klub (Ladislav Smoček), and also the Divadlo Járy Cimrmana by Zdeňka Svěráka and Ladislava Smoljaka.
Czech Architecture Inspired by the World
Gothic architecture in the Czech lands flourished during the reign of Charles IV. He commissioned the construction of the Charles Bridge in the High Gothic style in Prague, and a large-scale construction of St. Vitus Cathedral began, with the help of architects Petr Parléř and his son, Jan Parléř. As a repository for new coronation regalia, which Charles IV had created, he had Karlštejn Castle built in Central Bohemia, designed by Matthias of Arras. Vladislaus Jagiello initiated a major reconstruction of Prague Castle and brought in the builder Benedikt Rejt from Saxony, who, among other things, created the Vladislav Hall and the Church of St. Barbara in Kutná Hora, in whose construction another prominent builder, Matěj Rejsek, also participated, and who was also the author of the Prague Powder Tower.
During the Baroque era in the Czech lands, significant architects such as Carlo Lurago (Klementinum), Francesco Caratti (Černínský Palace), Jan Baptista Mathey (Archbishop's Palace, Toskánský Palace, letohrádek in Troja), Jan Blažej Santini-Aichel (church on Zelená Hora), and Kryštof Dientzenhofer (church of St. Margaret in the Břevnov Monastery) worked. A wave of Art Nouveau was significant in Czech architecture at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries (especially the Municipal House in Prague, with architects Antonín Balšánek, Osvald Polívka, Josef Fanta, and Jan Letzel), and shortly before the war, Cubism, which was a Czech specialty (the House at the Black Mother of God by Josef Gočár, the Kovařovic villa by Josef Chochol). The architects who worked under the influence of Cubism created unique and distinctive works that have a somewhat peculiar impression. Cubist architecture in the Czech Republic was active approximately from 1911 to the 1920s, primarily in Prague.
From the 1920s, architecture gravitated towards Functionalism (the Trade Fair Palace in Prague, the Baťa Skyscraper in Zlín, the Villa Tugendhat in Brno). Its representatives included Jan Kotěra and Josef Gočár. At that time, the significant Slovenian architect Josip Plečnik also worked in Prague (especially the Church of the Most Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ on Jiřího z Poděbrad Square in Prague). Czech natives included the significant architects Adolf Loos, Josef Hoffmann, Joseph Maria Olbrich, and Balthasar Neumann. They contributed to the development, especially in Vienna, as did the great and very hardworking Czech builder Josef Hlávka.
From the architecture of the second half of the 20th century, the Czech version of Brutalism is increasingly appreciated, especially from the workshops of Věra Machoninová and her husband, Vladimír Machonin (the apartment building in Prague, the Thermal Hotel in Karlovy Vary, the Kotva department store in Prague, the Czechoslovak Embassy in Berlin). Karel Prager (the building of the former Federal Assembly, the New Stage of the National Theatre). However, the most highly regarded building of this era was the Ještěd transmitter by Karel Hubáček. In post-November architecture, the work of Frank Gehry and Vlado Milunić, the Dancing House in Prague, played a significant role as a symbol of postmodern architecture.
Czech Music, Composers, and Songwriters
Czech music has its roots in spiritual music dating back at least 1000 years. The oldest spiritual song in the Czech lands was Old Church Slavonic: "Hospodine, pomiluj ny" (10th century, or early 11th century). The first spiritual song in Old Czech, "Svatý Václave, vévodo české země" (Saint Wenceslaus, Duke of the Czech Land), dates from the 12th century. The "Ostrovská píseň" (Ostrov Song), recorded in a manuscript from the monastery of Ostrov near Davle, is also of great importance. It is also known as "Slovo do světa stvorenie" (Word created for the world) based on the first verse. A significant center of medieval music was the Šumava region. The earliest musical records here come from the library of the Cistercian monastery in Vyšší Brod, founded in 1259. For example, manuscript no. 42 from 1410 describes the song "Jesu Kriste, ščedrý kněže" (Jesus Christ, generous priest), which was also sung by the Hussites.
An important stage in the development of Czech music was the Baroque period (17th and 18th centuries). Notable composers include Josef Mysliveček, Jan Dismas Zelenka, Jan Ladislav Dusík, Jiří Antonín Benda, František Xaver Richter, Jan Křtitel Vaňhal, Leopold Koželuh, and Adam Michna z Otradovic. Jan Jakub Ryba and Václav Jan Křtitel Tomášek built upon the Baroque tradition in the National Revival. This formed the foundation for the key authors of modern Czech classical music, most notably Bedřich Smetana, who composed the cycle of six symphonic poems "Má vlast," and Antonín Dvořák, the most famous Czech composer in the world, with his "New World" symphony. This tradition continued with undiminished force: Leoš Janáček, Bohuslav Martinů, Josef Suk, Vítězslav Novák, and Zdeněk Fibich. The world-renowned composer Gustav Mahler was born in Moravia.
Performers and conductors such as Rafael Kubelík, Václav Talich, and Václav Neumann also made significant contributions. Violinists Jan Kubelík, František Benda, Vojtěch Živný, and Jan Křtitel Václav Kalivoda. Harpsichordist Zuzana Růžičková. Singers Ema Destinnová, and the orchestra Česká filharmonie. Shortly after World War II, the important music festival Prague Spring was also established. In the 20th century, Czechs also excelled in new genres. In jazz, Jaroslav Ježek; in operetta, Oskar Nedbal; in popular music, Karel Svoboda; in folk music, Karel Kryl and Jaromír Nohavica. In response to Austrian popular brass music (especially military music), a specific Czech version developed, largely thanks to František Kmoch. In the world, the most famous Czech melodies are still the brass band tunes, such as "Vjezd gladiátorů" (Gladiator Entrance) by Julius Fučík and "Škoda lásky" (The Price of Love) by Jaromír Vejvoda).
Visual Arts: A Showcase
Most visual artists were anonymous even during the Gothic period; painting was then considered a craft in which the author was not as important, and not as an art form. We speak of artists of this period using terms such as "Master of the Litoměřice Altar," "Master of the Třeboň Altar," "Master of the Vyšehrad Altar," or "Master Theodorik." Among Czech Baroque painters, we include Karel Škréta and Petr Brandl. The most important sculptural works of this era were created by artists such as Matyáš Bernard Braun and Ferdinand Maxmilián Brokoff. In the 1970s and 1980s, the so-called "National Theatre Generation" emerged, consisting of artists who contributed to the decoration of the newly built "Golden Chapel." Among them, Mikoláš Alš achieved the greatest international recognition. Other members of the generation included Vojtěch Hynais, Julius Mařák, Václav Brožík, Jakub Schikaneder, and František Ženíšek. The sculptor Josef Václav Myslbek also belonged to this generation.
Art Nouveau played an extraordinary role in the Czech Republic and worldwide. Its most prominent representative, Alfons Mucha, is now the most famous Czech painter in the world. Mucha became famous not only for his posters but also for the cycle of 20 large-format paintings, "Slavic Epic," which summarizes the history of the Czech nation and the Slavic peoples. The works of Max Švabinský and Jan Preißler can also be classified as Art Nouveau. It also includes prominent sculptors such as František Bílek, Jan Štursa, and Ladislav Šaloun. Book illustration, caricature, and animated film also play an important role in Czech visual arts. František Gellner was a master of caricature, while Viktor Oliva, Josef Lada, Jiří Trnka, Zdeněk Burian, Adolf Born, and Květa Pacovská excelled in book illustration; Pacovská received the Hans Christian Andersen Award from the International Board on Books for Young People in 1992 for her book illustrations. Zdeněk Smetana and Zdeněk Miler were prominent figures in animated film.
Finally, I saved my favorite example of artistic photography. The most famous representatives of Czech artistic photography are František Drtikol, Josef Sudek, Jaroslav Rössler, or Josef Koudelka. Recently, the Czech photographer Jan Saudek gained international recognition in France with an exhibition about family at the Louvre. However, other names of Czech photographers also represent us worldwide. Names like Jovan Dezort, František Dostál, Jaromír Funke, Jindřich Štreit, Ivan Pinkava, and Vasil Stanko from the new Slovak wave. I could continue listing our great cultural figures who we, as Czechs, have given to the world. It would take us more than ten more pages to do so.
photo: Jaroslav Rössler (1902 – 1990)
```htmlAs I mentioned, our cultural heritage is among the world's best, but I must admit that I miss truly Czech works by genuine young Czech authors. This is what we should fundamentally support. I would like to see Czech plays dominate our theaters again, with Czech authors, performed by Czech actors, and directed by Czech directors. I want to hear Czech music played by Czech musicians, composed by Czech composers, with Czech dancers, Czech artists painting and decorating the sets, and all of this documented by Czech or Czechoslovakian visual photographers. This is true patriotism: steadfastly advocating for our Czech artists and creators. A legitimate question arises: are we currently protecting our country and nation by protecting our language and culture? My answer is yes, we are, but we must do it ourselves.
Jan Vojtěch, Editor-in-Chief of General News
```