A May Night

This unique May scenery captured by Josef Lada represents his prime artistic expression and is an excellent example of his unmistakable artistic lyricism. He created it in the period considered one of the most fruitful in his work when he definitively established his expressive style. Lada never allowed himself to be bound by the artistic conventions of the time; on the contrary, he consciously set out on his path, characterised by a strong national sentiment, a love for local folklore and devotion to traditional symbols. His works reflect the atmosphere of the time and celebrate simple rural life and its values.

In the presented painting, Lada captured an idyllic image of his native region, in which a couple in love engaged in a quiet conversation under a blossoming tree stands out. This romantic and simple depiction of human life is set in a typical Czech countryside with a picturesque building and a church tower in the background. In this way, Lada not only idealised but also preserved the atmosphere and aesthetics of the countryside, which he valued immensely. This particular motif appeared in Lada’s work only a few times. Its value is further enhanced by its reproduction in Alena Ladová’s book Můj táta Josef Lada ([My Father Josef Lada], Prague 1963, p. 128). Assessed during consultations by prof. J. Zemina and PhDr. R. Michalová, Ph.D. The expertise of PhDr. P. Pečinková, CSc, is attached.