So, I went back to the museum during my latest visit to Belgrade. This time my objective was the Yugoslav art and artists. This particular collection is big and it requires a bit more time and proper attention. Frankly speaking, my knowledge of the Yugoslav 20th century art is not as strong as it is on the Serbian medieval art or the Italian Renaissance, for example.
I took a lot of photos and will present them in two separate posts. Otherwise, one post would be too long. Additionally, I was thinking to present paintings that I like the most, which would’ve been sufficient for one post. But I decided to present all of them in two separate posts, because it means that I’ll always be able to come back to them in the future.
I also hope that these presentations will benefit people who would like to see examples of the Yugoslav 20th century art, but can’t or don’t want to travel to Belgrade for that reason.
I’ve already written about the National Museum, so I am not going to repeat any of that again. You can visit my previous articles to find out more about the museum, its history and other collections.
This and the next post are virtual tours of this fascinating part of the museum.
The collection of the 20th century Serbian and Yugoslav paintings contains approximately 3000 paintings and aquarelles, created between 1889 and 1999.
From 1936 until 1940, the state systematically obtained works of authors from all areas of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia, during Belgrade exhibitions.
Additionally, ministries and state institutions donated valuable paintings to the museum after the Second World War.
Apart from regular acquisitions, the collection has also gradually enlarged through gifts by authors, as well as through legacies.
The National Museum has also been acquiring paintings from authors that started their careers after the Second World War. The aim is to represent their opuses and artistic endeavours within the most recent epoch.
The collection contains masterpieces of the most prominent artists of Yugoslavia, from Yugoslav Impressionist through artists influenced by diverse European art movements, to the contemporary ones.
Certainly, all these paintings are truly impressive. Additionally, I would like to learn more about the painters, especially about those ones that are considered the most important for the history and development of the Yugoslav 20th century art.
I believe, this post is a very good start.
Back to Serbia
i would like to know about the portrait of Miroslav Spalajkovic by Leon Krall
October 26, 2021Hello, I have just double checked both posts on the Yugoslav 20th century art that I published, but I can’t find any reference to the painting that you mention. I don’t think that it’s in the museum in Belgrade, although I may have missed it. Certainly, what I presented is not everything that you can see in the National Museum.
October 27, 2021Regards
I have two Obican originals-one in pastel and a large
February 27, 2025one in oil. But I’m trying to read the artist’s name of
a painting I bought in 1966. I went to see
Obican, but only spoke to his wife. She suggested I
visit this artist who only lived a few doors away.
The spelling of his name could be Kofoviat ‘64. This
doesn’t look right. The painting is ultra modern in
orange pastel or acrylic of Dubrovnik with the island
also. Can you help me with his name and popularity.
He was in his late 20 or mid 30’s when I met him. Tito
was still in power. Thank you. Jean Richland
melitamajestic@comline.com or text 949 300-8880
Hello, would you be perhaps able to take a photo of the paintings that you have and send them to me to my e-mail vitko@myforevertravel? I’ve tried to do a search, but it’s hard to pinpoint the exact name of the painter in this way. Thank you.
March 2, 2025