Jan Matulka

1890 - 1972

Jan Matulka was born in 1890 in a small town 85 miles southwest of Prague, South Bohemia (in what later became Czechoslovakia). In 1905 he took his first art classes in Prague, and two years later his family emigrated to the United States settling in the Bronx, New York. He then began taking classes at the National Academy of Design continuing there through 1917 when he graduated with a Joseph Pulitzer Traveling Scholarship. He used this opportunity to return to Europe where he arrived in Paris in December, 1919. Infatuated with all he saw he rented a studio and returned regularly through the 1920s, traveling in France and Czechoslovakia. In 1925 he began teaching at the Art Students League and in 1926 Katherine Dreier arranged his first important one-man exhibition at The Art Center, 65 East 56th Street in New York. Matlka was a favorite among the League's students and professional jealousy, along with a distaste among the faculty for his European style abstraction, led to his dismissal from his teaching job. From then on he took students for private study. Matulka was an obsessive painter, often working simultaneously in different styles — abstract in the morning and landscape in the afternoon. Moving easily between Europe and New York he was one of the first artists to bring avant-garde painting methods to the States. In 1931, Stuart Davis arranged a showing of his own work at the Art Students League along with the work of Matulka, John Graham and Arshile Gorky, which began a professional friendship between the four.
In 1933, he made his final visit to Europe and gave up his Paris studio to Josef Sima. In 1935 he joined the Federal Art Project (FAP) under the WPA where he created the mural "Synthesis of American Music and History." In 1944 he had a solo exhibition at the A.C.A. Gallery and after that time dropped off the artistic map but still kept working until his death in 1972. In 1969 his name was mentioned in the retrospective catalog for David Smith as his biggest influence, and Matulka’s work began to sell. In 1970 New York dealer Robert Schoelkopf began representing Matulka and gave him a solo exhibition. In 1979 a retrospective of Matulka’s work opened at the Whitney Museum of Art, and in 1982 an exhibition of works donated by Lida Matulka was organized at the Guggenheim museum in New York. In 1995 a one-person exhibition was organized by the McCormick Gallery from 2004-2006 The Global Modernist exhibition traveled to six venues.

Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Two Figures Abstraction, 1930s
oil on canvas
36 x 36 inches
estate stamped verso
#5820
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Coney Island, 1927
gouache on paper
15 1/2 x 20 inches
estate stamped verso
verso gouache of woman sitting
#12997
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Two Figures Abstraction, 1930s
oil on canvas
36 x 36 inches
estate stamped verso
#5820
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Coney Island, 1927
gouache on paper
15 1/2 x 20 inches
estate stamped verso
verso gouache of woman sitting
#12997
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Still Life with Mandolin, Fruit and Pottery, 1921
gouache on paper
12 3/8 x 19 inches
signed at lower right, estate stamped verso
verso vertical sketch of a woman's backside
#12996
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Reclining Woman, 1927
watercolor on paper
10 1/2 x 14 1/2 inches
signed at lower right, estate stamped verso
verso reclining woman sketch
#12686
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Woman with Gramaphone, 1929
gouache on paper
12 1/4 x 8 3/8 inches
signed in lower margin; estate stamped verso
#12516
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1971
watercolor on paper
13 x 8 inches
signed and dated at lower right; estate stamped verso
#12093
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1940s
watercolor on paper
12 1/4 x 7 1/2 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#12087
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1940s
watercolor on paper
11 x 8 1/2 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#9302
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Nude Looking Down to Her Right, c.1925
red conte crayon on Strathmore Laid Paper
19 x 12 1/2 inches
signed at lower center
#8036
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Arrangement with South Seas Mask and Phonograph, 1930
ink on paper
14 x 17 inches
estate stamped; signed verso
#6346
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Cactus and Shell, 1927
ink on paper
13 1/2 x 11 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#13679
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Seated Figure Study, 1921
pencil on paper
19 x 12 inches
estate stamped verso
#4562
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Arrangement with South Sea Island Mask, 1930
ink on paper
15 5/8 x 14 inches
signed lower right, estate stamped verso
XT JM4, titled in right margin
#1323
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstract Figures, 1930s
oil on canvas
36 x 30 inches
Matulka estate #JM271
#722
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled (Four Nudes in a Landscape), 1923
etching and drypoint on wove paper
10 3/4 x 13 15/16 inches
initialed in plate I.I., signed and dated in pencil at lower right
#474
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Cubist Abstraction, c.1918
oil on commercial artist's board
8 x 10 inches
signed and estate stamped verso
#10059
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled (Hopi Pueblo Dance), 1917-1918
oil on thin panel mounted to canvas
12 x 8 3/4 inches
estate stamped verso
#7205
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Park in Paris, c.1921
watercolor on paper
15 x 20 inches
signed at lower left; estate stamped verso
#13965
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
A View in the Bronx, c.1917
watercolor on paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
#13963
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled
oil on cavas
29 x 25 inches
estate stamped verso
#14110
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled New Mexico Study, 1917-1918
oil on board
12 x 9 inches
#14141
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, c.1948
oil on panel
15 x 10 inches
signed at lower left; estate stamped verso
#14131
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, c.1940
gouache on paper
11 x 14 inches
signed at lower left; estate stamped verso
#14130
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, c.1943
blue ink on paper
8 1/4 x 10 3/4 inches
signed at lower left; estate stamped verso
#14129
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, c.1943
blue ink on paper
8 1/4 x 10 3/4 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#14128
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Cityscape, New York, c.1923
oil on canvas
19 5/8 x 16 1/4 inches
portrait of a Pueblo girl verso; view from Matulka's apartment at 48 E 79th St. which they rented in 1923 and stayed until 1930
#14127
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Arrangement, New York, 1925
lithograph on full sheet Ingres laid paper
16 1/4 x 12 3/8 inches
signed in image at lower right; estate stamped verso; drawing of nude verso
#14125
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Arrangement, New York, 1925
lithograph on full sheet Ingres laid paper
13 3/8 x 16 1/8 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso; verso drawing of three nudes
#14124
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, 1932
gouache on paper
19 x 12 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
framed
#14123
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Ruins, c.1925
watercolor on paper
15 x 20 inches
signed at lower right, estate stamped verso
#13062
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled
oil on canvas
25 1/2 x 19 1/2 inches
#14107
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
At Sea, 1929
conte crayon on paper
15 x 22 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#14105
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Jazzy Trap Set, 1928
gouache on paper
21 1/2 x 13 inches
estate signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#14104
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Hopi Snake Dance Study, 1918
oil on canvas board
16 x 12 3/4 inches
estate stamped verso
#14097
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, 1918
oil on board
12 3/4 x 10 1/2 inches
estate stamped verso
#14084
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1920s
oil on board
22 1/4 x 21 3/4 inches
estate stamped verso
#14082
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled , 1930s
oil on panel
25 x 21 3/4 inches
estate stamped verso
verso horizontal oil painting of people watching moon/sun
#14081
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
New Mexico Study, 1917-1918
oil on board
12 x 9 inches
estate stamped verso
#13976
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1940s
watercolor on paper
13 x 8 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#12092
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Matulka c.1930
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled (New York Rooftops), c.1925
pencil on paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
signed lower left; estate stamped verso
#437
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstraction, 1930-40
oil on canvas
28 3/4 x 23 1/2 inches
estate stamped verso
#729
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstraction, 1940s
oil on canvas
24 x 20 inches
estate stamped verso
#733
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Woman with a Cat, c.1929
ink on paper
19 x 12 1/2 inches
estate stamped verso
#1982
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Still Life, c.1929
ink on paper
17 3/4 x 12 inches
signed lower left, estate stamped verso
#1983
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Tree Study, c.1922
conte crayon on paper
10 3/4 x 8 3/8 inches
signed at lower left, estate stamped verso
#2923
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, c.1930
ink and pencil on vellum
16 x 13 1/2 inches
signed at lower right and estate stamped
#4561
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Study – Paris, c.1921
conte crayon on paper
9 x 11 1/2 inches
estate stamped verso
#4565
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Cow Resting Under a Tree, c.1927
watercolor on paper
20 x 15 inches
signed lower right, estate stamped verso
#5061
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Paris, c.1921
conte crayon on paper
12 1/2 x 16 inches
estate stamped verso
#5187
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Cape Ann Still Life, c.1929
ink, pencil and white gouache on paper
17 x 22 inches
signed at lower left, estate stamped verso
#5876
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, c.1950
watercolor on paper
13 x 10 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#8572
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1948
watercolor and ink on paper
11 x 8 1/2 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#9301
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Mother and Child, c.1929
ink on paper
18 x 12 inches
signed lower left, estate stamped verso
#10913
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Purist Composition, c.1923
gouache on paper
16 x 12 inches
signed at lower right, estate stamped verso
#11176
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, c.1930
gouace/watercolor on paper
22 x 22 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#11633
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1940s
watercolor on paper
25 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches
stamped signature at lower right; estate stamped verso
#12089
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled, c.1923
watercolor and conte crayon on paper
18 3/4 x 14 inches
signed at lower left
#5139
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Buildings and Boats (Gloucester), c.1930
gouache and watercolor on paper
15 x 20 inches
signed at lower left, estate stamped verso; exhibited 2006 Cape Ann Museum Matulka show
#3542
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Hudson River Landscape, c.1925
watercolor and conte crayon on paper
17 x 22 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#4566
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Boat on the Shore, c.1928
gouache on paper
15 x 20 inches
signed at lower right
#2108
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
House with Stone Wall, c.1925
watercolor and conte crayon on paper
15 x 20 inches
signed at lower right
#5172
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Turi Pole Landscape, c.1921
watercolor on paper
24 1/2 x 18 1/2 inches
signed at lower right; estate stamped verso
#12518
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1930-40
oil on board
21 x 16 inches
estate stamped verso
#11655
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, 1940-50
oil on board
23 1/2 x 17 1/2 inches
estate stamped verso
#11708
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstraction, 1940-50
oil on canvas
31 x 26 inches
signed on stretcher bar; estate stamped verso
#11346
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstraction, 1940-50
oil on canvas
44 x 36 inches
estate stamped verso
#11339
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Abstraction, 1940-50
oil on canvas
48 x 36 inches
estate stamped verso
#11337
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled Abstraction, c.1962
watercolor on paper
11 x 14 inches
signed at lower left, estate stamped verso
#8388
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Seated Nude, c.1921
pencil on paper
15 x 12 inches
estate stamped verso
#4550
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Surrealist Figures, c.1934
ink on paper
14 x 21 inches
estate stamped lower right (signed watercolor landscape verso)
#4546
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Head with Starfish on Beach, c.1934
pencil on paper
8 1/2 x 11 inches
signed lower left
#1986
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Study for White Oak, c.1923
conte crayon on paper
12 x 9 1/2 inches
signed at lower right, estate stamped verso
#5181
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Untitled- Gloucester, c.1931
ink on paper
9 x 16 inches
signed lower right, estate stamped verso
#5051
Jan Matulka (1890 - 1972)
Nude Bather Seated Facing Window, 1925
lithograph on thin Japan paper
14 1/2 x 11 inches
signed at lower right; Flint cat. #7
#330