1871 |
* |
1892 |
Kupka has graduated with diploma from Prague Academy of Art, starts his studies at Vienna Academy. |
1896 |
Leaves for Paris, where he studies and illustrates both books and magazines. In his work, he demonstrates his leftist thinking, Spiritism and erotica in the full flow of life of the “holy hill” (Montmartre) in the name of fast changing love and ever flowing absinth. |
1899 |
![]() Lost in the big cityInk drawing and painting white lead on lithography (1899), 37×57 cm, 56×75 cm (including frame), signed, framed. |
![]() The FoolsColor lithograph on paper (1899), 49 x 71 cm, 63 x 96 cm (including frame), signed, framed. Published in the book Musaion VIII, 1928 |
|
1900 |
![]() Liberté!Black and white lithographs and ink drawing on paper (around 1900), 42 x 77 cm, 74×105 cm (including frame), signed, framed. |
1900 |
![]() Ape´s King/Ape´s PainterReproduction, framed, original published in the Album. |
1900 |
![]() Resistance/The black idolColored aquatint on paper (1900-1903), 34,5 x 34,5 cm, 58 x 56 cm (including frame), signed, framed. |
1901 |
In Paris, politically satiric weekly magazine, illustrated by Kupka, starts being published and is distributed around Europe – i.e. within Austro-Hungarian Empire also, where it provokes positive reactions – mainly in leftish thinking readers – and the outcome of this all is the Exhibition of 150 Kupka´s mostly satiric pieces of art, travelling around Czech. |
1905 |
Kupka´s exhibition travelling around Czech – “the individualist becomes a socialist”. On the exhibition, the Album mainly satiric reproductions of Kupka is published – these become the most favourite decoration of youth rooms. |
1905 |
The book Le Qantique des Qantiques is published in Paris. This book is written by Jean de Bonnefon a illustrated by Kupka. A series of symbolistic illustrations is oriented on a exotic sexuality, so typical for that time. |
1905 |
![]() Song of Songs (For her Master)Sheet from the illustrations cycle of bibliophile Song of Songs, two-color woodcut on paper (1905-1909), 23.5 x 22.5 cm, 48.5 x 46.5 cm (including frame), plate signed, framed. |
1905 |
![]() Song of songs (For my Lord) IISheet from the illustrations cycle of bibliophile Song of Songs, two-color woodcut on paper (1905-1909), 23.5 x 22.5 cm, plate signed, unframed. |
1905 |
![]() Song of Songs (The beauty with an earring)Sheet from the illustrations cycle of bibliophile Song of Songs, two-color woodcut on paper (1905-1909), 23.5 x 22.5 cm, 48.5 x 46.5 cm (including frame), plate signed, framed. |
1905 |
![]() Song of Songs (Beauty Sulamit)Sheet from the illustrations cycle of bibliophile Song of Songs, two-color woodcut on paper (1905-1909), 23.5 x 22.5 cm, plate signed, unframed. |
1911 |
Kupka presents his abstract studies, and screams of disapproval of the French critics sound over the tampering of the French tradition. “The guilty ones are the foreigners, Slavs or Americans with their cynical shamelessness and without French good taste “. |
1912 |
He exhibits his first abstract paintings in Paris. The viewers are laughing, press is aghast, the public authorities in the state of shock. |
1912 |
![]() Study to “Fugue in Two Colors”Drypoint on Japanese paper (around 1912), 17 x 22,5 cm, 63 x 70cm (including frame), plate signed bottom left, stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the right lower margins, framed. |
1912 |
![]() Sounds of the ClockEtching on paper (1912), 27,5 x 22,5 cm, 68 x 60 cm (including frame), plate signed bottom right, stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the right lower margins, framed. |
1913 |
![]() Study to AmorphaColor etching on paper (1913), 24 x 16 cm, 63 x 52 cm (including frame), plate signed bottom left, stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the right lower margins framed. |
![]() Study to Amorpha black and whiteEtching on paper (1913), 24 x 16 cm, 63 x 52 cm (including frame), plate signed bottom left, plate signed, stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the right lower margins, framed. |
|
1914 |
Immediately after the World War I breaks out, he volunteers for becoming a soldier. After the victory in the year 1918, he comes back from the front in the rank of the lieutenant. |
1919 |
Jindřich Waldes becomes his patron and collector. |
1920 |
![]() White rhythmsWoodcut on paper (around 1920), 25×40 cm, 47×61 cm (including frame), plate signed bottom right, stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the left lower margins, framed. |
1921 |
![]() Untitled1921, etching on paper, sheet size 51×33 cm, size of picture 23×15 cm, plate signed right bottom a stamped signed with Kupka’s signatures stamp at the right lower margins, unframed. |
1922 |
First monograph about Kupka, which was written by writer of French origin Arnould Grémilly is published. The Czech critics admire him and they seek for him in Paris to talk with him about new fine art. |
1923 |
Kupka summarized his artistic views in the book Creation in the visual art.. |
1925 |
He stops painting and works on the album of black and white woodcuts Four stories of black and white. |
1926 |
Kupka is given the order of French Legion of Honour. |
1926 |
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntroductory folio of the four stories – connection of humans, nature and knowledge into energy gushing up and coming back again. |
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntroductory folio of the first story – embryo of being. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirSowing the seed. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntake of seed. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirGenesis. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirGenesis |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirWhat will follow (prototype of the question mark). |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntroductory folio of the second story – the beginning of fragmentation. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirFragmentation. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirFragments. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirConnecting fragments. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirConneting fragments (temple). |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirSolidness of connection. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntroductory folio of the third story – universe. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirEnergy. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirPulsating energy – beginning of the transformation. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirPulsating energy – beginning of transformation. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirCreation of matter. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirMatter. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirIntroductory folio of the fourth story – verticals, diamonds and on trapezoid. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirChaos. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirArranging. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirGenesis of structure. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirConnection. |
|
![]() Quatre Histoires de blanc et noirFirm shape (with energy ascending). |
|
1927 |
His patron and collector Jindřich Waldes buys part large number of copies of Four stories of White and Black and successfully distributes it in USA. |
1928 |
His first Czech monograph by Emanuel Siblík is published. |
1930 |
He spends two months in Czech at Waldes´s home, is worshiped, gives interviews and speaks on radio, is being acquainted with prominent Czech intellectual. Leading Czech cubistic architect and chancellor of AVU Josef Gočár renews his professorship. |
1930–1932 |
He paints cycle Abstraction that is published in catalogue Abstraction – Création: Art non figurative and, in the year 1946, it is published also in Prague. |
1931 |
In Paris, the group Abstraction – Création is established, Kupka refuses presidentship and becomes one of the member. |
1934 |
He is called by founding president of the Salon of Independents Paul Signac to provide his works to exhibition on the occasion of 50th anniversary of the Salon. |
1935 |
He is called also by the director of Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the next year Kupka exhibits in New York. |
1936 |
Collection of poems Conquête du silence including the original Kupka´s woodcut building on Quatre Histoires de blanc et noir is published in edition 225 pieces in France. |
1946 |
He starts to exhibit at several exhibitions a year throughout the whole world. |
In Prague, Kupka´s great retrospective exhibition takes place and Kupka´s catalog to the exhibition is published. Czechoslovak state buys his works for National Gallery Nevertheless, the critics value more Kupka – the illustrator more than Kupka – the painter. He is disappointed and contrary to his original decision to spend the rest of his life in Czech he goes back to Paris. |
|
1947 |
This is the last time, when he comes to Czech – he wants to present to municipal authority of Dobruška a portrait of his father, who used to be the official there. Not even after long waiting he is not accepted. He leaves the painting with an official in the hall. And after this incident he returns back to France and gives up the Czech citizenship. |
1948 |
His admirer and publisher Žikeš prints in Prague in Czech, French, English and German languages his volume Album of Abstraction (16 prints of black on lithographic background) Due to lack of interest and minimum of sales, great part of the copies was probably discarded. |
1948 |
![]() Abstraction ISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
![]() Abstraction IISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction IIISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction IVSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction VSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction VISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction VIISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction VIIISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction IXSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 40.7 x 33.7 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XIISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XIIISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XIVSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XVSerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
![]() Abstraction XVISerigraph with lithographic printing on paper (1948), 21 x 15 cm, 42 x 35 cm (including frame). |
|
1951 |
Kupka is 80 years old and the commercial world gallery (in New York) buys for the first time great number of this paintings and starts to sell it throughout the world. |
1956 |
Museum of Modern Art buys great number of Kupka´s most prominent paintings. |
1957 |
Kupka dies in France and Musée National d´Art Moderne in Paris buys many of his paintings and founds a permanent hall of Kupka „Salle Kupka“. |
1962 |
On the Paris market, first imitations – catalogized – of Kupka paintings and drawings appear. |
1976 |
Museé d’Art Moderne de la Ville in Paris publishes on the occasion of Kupka´s exhibition a reprint Four stories of white and black. |
1990 |
In auction house Phillips London, Kupka´s oil on canvas achieves for the first time the price surpassing 500.000 USD (price with auction house fee). |
In aution Champin-Lombrail-Gautier, Enghien-les-Bains Paris the price of Kupka´s oil on canvas more than 1.000.000 USD (price with auction house fee). | |
1998 |
Liverpool University Press publishes a reprint Four stories of white and black and the Album Abstraction. |
1999 |
Antiquariat Peter Meissner published the book KUPKA-WALDES Painter and his collector. It is the largest, most extensive and most comprehensive publication on the life and work of František Kupka and his relationship with the entrepreneur Jindřich Waldes. Buy the book. |
2008 |
Galerie of Modern Art in Hradec Králové publishes for Kupka´s exhibition the catalogue Quatre Histoires de blanc et noir . |
2016 |
In auction Auctionsverk, a world auction record for Kupka´s oil on canvas is achieved 2.553.000 € (almost 70.000.000 Czech, price with auction house fee). |
In auction Adolf Loos Apartment and Gallery Prague, Kupka´s oil on canvas is sold for record 62.000.000 CZK (price with auction house fee.). This is the new Czech record for Kupka´s painting. |