1900-large-300x18Slovenia-Art-stamps

In the end of the year Pofis Post is issuing two ART stamps dedicated to the artwork of Jan Jakub Stunder and Martin Martincek.

A Danish painter, Jean Jacques Stunder, representative of the European enlightenment and classicism found Slovakia his second homeland. He studied at Copenhagen Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, stayed in Italy and Vienna. He painted altar pictures and portraits. He depicted Count Jan Joseph Hadik de Futak (1755 – 1833) twice, as he is painting his portrait and also on another picture where he is painting a portrait of his wife. The first signed picture is in the Slovak National Gallery, while the other one can be found in the Hungarian National Museum. The assumption that these pictures coming from the 18th century resulted from friendship of both gentlemen not from an order, which was rather untraditional, brings them a greater credit. The portrayed Count Hadik was growing up in Levoča, and on the contrary to his brothers, he did not follow in the footsteps of his father, the famous field marshal András Hadik. He occupied himself with art and work of a vicegerent’s adviser. Since 1784 he was married to the Countess Frantziska von Breuner with whom he had 4 children. His depiction follows the spirit of classicistic portraits which represented tributes to spiritually related people, were characteristic of simple compositions, neutral background, hushed light and intimate atmosphere. A natural impression and clothes were significant features. Count Hadik moved with the times, he was wearing no wig or decorated coat but instead a white shirt, velvet suede, long light-coloured trousers and a topcoat (thrown over the chair) according to English fashion. A cap with a fur adds him a hallmark of a personality.

Martin Martincek belongs to the most significant personalities of the Slovak photography of the 20th century. He was the only Slovak photographer who created works of paramount significance in the field of fine art and documentary photography.

Since the 1960s he was implementing his primary intention – to create a “fine art dictionary of Liptov region country” through numerous photographic cycles and later also in publications. He took pictures within a quite restricted area, did not leave Liptov region. He depicted the country and its inhabitants universally, on various visual levels.

In his photographs he gave life to inanimate nature – he found magic, anthropomorphic images in details of sawn wood, flowing water, mud and also in ice. In numerous shots reminding of sculptural reliefs he also captured a shape of Liptov region country marked by human work, typical, that time still prevailing wooden dwellings, working instruments and especially people who did not resemble “builders of socialism”, quite the other way, they embodied rather fundamental human and also spiritual or Christian values which were endangered that time. Thanks to this, a “special symbiosis of the country and people, precious rudimentary unity of a style, special myth to which we answer” was born (Milan Rufus).

M. Martincek was a holder of several prizes and awards and moreover, he was the first Slovak photographer who was awarded a state professional award – the Meritorious Artist title.

Released December 3, 2013