Dům U Zlaté studně (House at the Golden Well, Prague) / 1913

Vondrous, Jan
American
Czech
Early 20th Century
Etching

$325.00

Pencil signed and annotated: 300 / J. C. Vondrous imp Praha 1913

Warm black ink on pale tan paper

Edition:  300?

Plate size: 6 1/2″ x 11 1/2″

Sheet size: 11 1/4″ x 181/8″

Condition: fine creases in margins, 1/2″ and farther from image, otherwise very good

1 in stock

Description

The House at the Golden Well was (and is) an historic hotel and restaurant in Prague. You can Google-image either the Czech or English name to see a beautiful assorment of contemporary photos. Vondrous’s etching shows human activity, strong light and deep shadow, and a rich range of textures.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Jan Vondrous (yahn von-drōs, 1884-1956) is best known for his work as an architectural etcher. He emigrated to the United States at an early age and studied at the National Academy of Design in New York with George W. Maynard, Francis C. Jones, and James D. Smillie. Vondrous’s first etchings focused primarily on architectural views of New York and environs.

Vondrous spent much of the decade following WWI etching architectural scenes of major European cities, particularly Bruges and Venice. During this time, he maintained a home and studio in Long Island.

In 1929, however, Vondrous re-settled in his native Czechoslovakia and continued to etch and paint the people and architecture of Prague where he lived and worked.

His images combine a strong sense of abstract design with selective, evocative detail. They are not dry records of endless facts about construction, but moody observations of environments and the people who inhabit or pass through them.