In the history of Czech modern art, Jan Trampota (1889–1942) is primarily associated with his landscape paintings of the Orlické Mountains. However, this characterization captures only one aspect of his work. In addition to landscapes, the painter’s oeuvre includes figurative works, nudes, portrait studies, and drawings that demonstrate his connection to European modernism and his exploration of form rooted in Cubism.

A selection of drawings allows us to present Trampota beyond the usual label of “landscape painter of the Orlické Mountains.” It reveals an artist who absorbed the influences of modern art without committing to a single stylistic approach. The exhibited collection draws attention to a lesser-known yet essential part of his work—his exploration of form, line, and volume.

The exhibition space On the Wall, which is part of the permanent exhibition Czech Art of the 20th Century and Its Categories, is dedicated to styles, motifs, groups, and artists who remained outside the mainstream narrative of modern art. These works demonstrate the multifaceted nature of the art of that era and highlight the limitations of the art-historical “filter” through which every work must pass before becoming part of codified art history.

Curator: Jan Florentýn Báchor