Jiří Altmann, painter and graphic artist, was born on 28 January 1942 in Prague in a family with a strong musical tradition. However, he himself showed artistic talent from childhood and after graduating from high school he was admitted to the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague, where he studied under professors Silovský and Tittelbach. The latter noticed his ability to master graphic techniques and recommended him to go in this direction in particular. He finished his studies in 1966 with a series of graphic sheets for the poems of F. Villon.

In 1968–1971 Jiří Altmann worked as a graphic designer at the Girardet publishing house in Essen, Germany. During his time in Germany he successfully presented his work in many German cities. After returning to Prague, he and his wife lived in Mostecká Street near the Charles Bridge, close to the St. Nicholas Cathedral and other architectural gems of the Lesser Town, which became a frequent subject of his graphic works. Other themes in Altmann's work were family, children, nature, landscape... He was intensively devoted to portraits - of composers, cultural figures and friends, among others.

The play of light and shadow is the hallmark of Altmann's prints. He was one of the few printmakers of his time to develop the earliest printmaking technique – woodcut – which was also practiced in the late 19th century by the painters E. Munch or P. Gauguin. Inspired by medieval leaves, he often supplemented his prints with carved text. In this way, he continued the old technique from the 14th and 15th centuries.

When he built his house in Černošice with his own hands, the surrounding forests provided him not only with shelter but also with materials. He felled suitable trees himself and cut wooden sticks from the logs. He respected the natural structure of the wood with its knots and cracks. He then hand-printed graphic sheets from the carved boards onto fine Japanese paper.

Jiří Altmann also pursued other artistic disciplines – drawing, painting, and created countless portraits in pencil, charcoal, and ink. In painting he devoted himself not only to portraits, but also to landscapes and still lifes. Sculptures were not left aside either. He made a number of objects out of wood or stone, or marble, and he also created portraits out of sculptural clay. Altmann's restoration work was not insignificant. He worked on small objects as well as sculptures and historic gates. 

Although born in Prague, Jiří Altmann was an artist literally in touch with nature. As much as he loved wood and trees, he was also an avid listener of classical music, which accompanied him throughout his life. The compositions of J. S. Bach were Altmann's favourites. Academic painter Jiří Altmann died on June 8, 2023. His prints are represented in the collections of the Prague City Gallery, the National Gallery in Prague and in many galleries in Europe.

"A tree gives man clean air and what does man give to a tree? That's sad..."   Jiří Altmann 

The exhibition will present the work of Jiří Altmann in the entire spectrum of his oeuvre – graphics, painting, drawing, carving. His work is inspired by nature, poetry, history and man himself. Works that the public has not had the opportunity to see before will also be on display.