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Cyprián Majerník prints bring the clowns, circus riders, lovers and lonely wanderers of a key Slovak modern painter into your home. Majerník worked in Prague in the 1930s and 1940s, influenced by Chagall and de Chirico, and his poetic, melancholy pictures later turned into a powerful protest against fascism and war. Our collection of fine art prints covers his circus and horse scenes, Don Quixote, refugees, nudes and drawings.

About Cyprián Majerník

Cyprián Majerník was born on 24 November 1909 in Veľké Kostoľany, in western Slovakia. He went to school in Pezinok and studied economics in Košice before deciding to become an artist. He took private lessons in Bratislava with the Expressionist painter Gustáv Mallý, then studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Prague under Josef Loukota and Jakub Obrovský. After graduating he settled in Prague.

A short trip to Paris in 1932 brought him under the influence of Marc Chagall and Giorgio de Chirico. In Prague he belonged to a circle of painters that included Ján Želibský, Ján Mudroch and Jakub Bauernfreund, and he is associated with the Slovak "Generation of 1909". He often travelled back to Slovakia to see his family and to exhibit.

In the late 1930s he was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. His work became driven by opposition to fascism, and by 1942 it was almost his only theme, showing prison camps, death marches and refugees, with Don Quixote as a symbol of resistance against impossible odds. After the liberation of Prague in May 1945 he married his long-time companion, Karla. He died in Prague on 4 July 1945. In 1991 he was posthumously awarded the Order of Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk.

Style and Subjects

Majerník's pictures are poetic and dreamlike, painted in muted, earthy colour with simplified, elongated figures. Circus performers, clowns, riders, horses and lovers appear again and again, often in strange, empty spaces that recall de Chirico.

In his last years the mood darkens: crowds of refugees and exiles, executions and processions, painted with deep feeling. Don Quixote and Sancho Panza recur as figures of noble, hopeless resistance.

Famous Works

• Runaway Horses (1931), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. Horses in motion, an early favourite subject.
• Two Madonnas (1932), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A gentle early picture of two mothers.
• Don Quichotte (1937), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. The knight who became his symbol of resistance.
• Entering the Ring (1939), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. Circus performers about to begin their act.
• Crying Clown (1940), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A sad clown, one of his most moving images.
• Equestrienne (1940), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A circus rider on horseback.
• Lady with Opera Glasses (1941), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A woman at the theatre, painted with quiet elegance.
• Card Players (1944), Slovak National Gallery, Bratislava. A late, sombre group of figures.

Decorating with Majerník Prints

Majerník's circus and horse pictures, like Equestrienne or Two Clowns with a Horse, bring a poetic, slightly melancholy mood to a living room, study or creative space. Their muted earthy colours suit modern, industrial and mid-century interiors.

His drawings make a striking gallery wall in a hallway or office, while the later refugee pictures are powerful statement works for anyone interested in the history of the Second World War.

FAQ

Who was Cyprián Majerník?

He was a Slovak painter (1909–1945) who worked in Prague and is associated with the "Generation of 1909" in Slovak art. He is known for his poetic circus scenes and his anti-fascist paintings.

What influenced Majerník's style?

A trip to Paris in 1932 introduced him to Marc Chagall and Giorgio de Chirico, whose dreamlike work shaped his own. He first trained with the Expressionist Gustáv Mallý.

Why did Majerník paint Don Quixote so often?

Don Quixote became his symbol of resistance continuing against overwhelming odds, especially in his paintings against fascism during the Second World War.

Where can I see Majerník's paintings?

The Slovak National Gallery in Bratislava holds a large collection, and the National Gallery Prague also has his work. A centenary exhibition was held at the Mirbach Palace in Bratislava in 2009.

Related Artists

• Gustáv Mallý: Expressionist painter who gave him his first lessons
• Mikuláš Galanda: leading Slovak modernist of the generation before him