Mikoláš Aleš a textil

Abstract

Mikoláš Aleš and textiles Well-known Czech artist, draughtsman, illustrator and author of models of monumental works Mikoláš Aleš (1852–1913) also created many designs to be used in the sphere of applied art, including the textile sector. Aleš’s collaboration with Josef Just, who operated a workshop and small shop in Prague at the end of the 19th century was also noteworthy. Just traced and embroidered ornaments on folk costumes, and sold towels, scarfs, table linen, coverlets, blankets and hanging “cookbooks” with pre-printed embroidery patterns. M. Aleš created several designs for him. In 1901 J. Just moved to Červený Kostelec and established premises for printing embroidery designs – patterns there. His brothers Antonín and František took over their father’s enterprise in the same year and began running it under the name of Ant. & F. Just, dying, printing and treatment enterprise in Červený Kostelec. Just’s departure from Prague evidently did not interrupt his long-standing friendship with M. Aleš, because Aleš designed ten more motifs for Just between 1905 and 1911. He drew inspiration for these designs from nine fairy tales and one motif was inspired by the life of gipsies. These designs were also originally intended for use as embroidery patterns. However, they were used as a model for designs placed on children’s handkerchiefs manufactured at the machine printing facility of the brothers of Josef Just in Červený Kostelec. This means that the factory of the Ant. & F. dying, printing and treatment enterprise in Červený Kostelec is probably the first textile factory in the Czech lands to have collaborated with a well-known artist.