Nitra Gallery’s depository includes sixteen pieces of art by the Slovak painter Edita Spannerová.
Inventory No.: O-1928
Artist: Edita Spannerová
Title: Reflected Light
Year: 1946
Technique: oil
Material: cardboard
Dimensions: 63 x 74,5 cm
Signature: bottom right: Spannerová 1946, in brush
Inventory No.: O-702
Artist: Edita Spannerová
Title: Open Horizons
Year: 1972
Technique: oil
Material: cardboard
Dimensions: 50 x 70 cm
Signature: bottom right: Spannerová, 1972, in brush
Inventory No.: O-1402
Artist: Edita Spannerová
Title: Dreaming
Year: 1981
Technique: oil
Material: cardboard
Dimensions: 48,5 x 33,5 cm
Signature: bottom left: Spannerová 1981, in brush
Nitra Gallery’s depository includes sixteen pieces of art by the Slovak painter Edita Spannerová.
The virtual gallery presents three of them (Reflected Light, 1946; Open Horizons, 1972; Dreaming, 1981).
The first one of the presented triad is titled Reflected Light and features a figural composition of seven people. The image focuses on an illuminated female figure with her sight set toward a beam of light coming from an otherwise dark, stormy sky. In the background, there are several crumpled figures of children and women as well as a man located on both sides of the illuminated woman. There are heavy clouds above their heads and (un)reachable mountains behind their backs. The artist moved from earthy colours to dark anthracite tones whose heaviness is balanced with the shades of white. The image’s message is to highlight the importance of hope (light) in our lives.
The second image titled Open Horizons captures a crib, depicted in a pleasing pastel colour scheme, with an off-white screen and a ribbon with a little piece of a blue blanket (a diaper?) sticking out. The crib is set in a neutral environment of ochre and pink tones with a blue butterfly flying around and a hint of perfect white clouds in the distance. The “sweetness” of the scene is seasoned with a feeling of emptiness as there is no baby in the crib. We can only wonder: is the bed empty as the image is about an emptiness caused by a crib without a baby? Is it about woman’s, maternal hope?
The selection is concluded by the third image titled Deaming featuring a lyrical portrait of a fragile woman. The shades of grey the artist chose draw our attention to the woman’s dark eyes and make us focus on the fact the portrait does not include her eyes. Eyes are a human organ that enables us to visualise our dreams and ideas. What kind of dreams are they if we cannot dream them with dark or missing eyes?
Edita Spannerová (Prešov, July 6, 1919 – Bratislava, November 24, 1990) focused on man’s psychology. Her work gradually matured into lyrical-poetic interpretations of reality through various symbols. At first, she attended private classes taught by A. Ballo and I. Valentinová. From 1934 to 1939, she studied at the School of Applied Arts in Budapest (F. Helbingh, J. Haranghy). In 1943, she attended private classes taught by K. Koffán. Her work was influenced by the spirituality of Gothic art and her husband (artist), Július Nemčík.
Ľudmila Kasaj Poláčková
July 2020
Bibliography:
SRNENSKÁ, Dagmar: Edita Spannerová. Bratislava : Tatran, 1979.