Jan Zrzavý

Jan Zrzavý (5 November 1890 – 12 October 1977) was a Czech painter, graphic artist and illustrator. Zrzavý was born on 5 November 1890 in Vadín in Bohemia (today a part of Okrouhlice in the Czech Republic). He studied privately in Prague and then attended the UMPRUM there for 2 years starting in 1907, before being expelled. He first visited France in 1907, returning to Paris and Brittany frequently until 1939, but maintaining close links to his homeland.

From 1942 to 1958, he lived and worked in Vodňany. After the war he became an associate professor at Palacký University of Olomouc from 1947 to 1950. Later he maintained private studios in Prague and Okrouhlice. He grew increasingly recognized on a national and international level in the 1950s and 1960s, and was honoured a title of a National Artist in 1965.

He died in Prague on 12 October 1977, at the age of 86. At his request, he was buried in Krucemburk, which he liked to visit and where his father came from.