Not many people know that during the pre-war years, Ostrava’s House of Art exhibited drawings by the renowned Bulgarian-born caricaturist Alexander Dobrinov (1898–1958). Dobrinov’s caricatures were fresh, topical, and hugely popular among Ostrava’s art-lovers.
The Gallery of Fine Arts has almost 60 drawings by Dobrinov in its collections. They include caricatures of famous Czech public figures from the era, including the Čapek brothers (the artist Josef and the writer Karel) and the painter Max Švabinský. However, the upcoming exhibition in Ostrava will focus on Dobrinov’s portraits that have a direct connection with the city. Ninety years since they were created, we can still enjoy caricatures of Ostrava’s mayor Jan Prokeš, the local industrialist Eduard Šebela, the architect Karel Kotas, and more.

Gabriela Pelikánová

Curator: Gabriela Pelikánová
Text: Gabriela Pelikánová
Translation: Christopher Hopkinson
Graphic design: Katarína Jamrišková
Promotion: Jana Malášek Šrubařová, Magdaléna Staňková
Educational programmes: Hedvika Dalecká, Jana Sedláková

Gallery of Fine Arts in Ostrava