The Path from Kosmonosy

A son of a wood carver, Alois Bubák begins his life in Kosmonosy. The trajectory shifts after his time at a gymnasium in Mladá Boleslav. Though his parents envision a future in the theological faculties of Prague, the pull of the Academy of Fine Arts becomes undeniable. He enters the academy in 1844.

The studio environment provides the foundation. Under the direction of Mr. Ruben and the guidance of Maximilian Joseph Haushofer, Bubák develops a specific focus on the landscape. His progress is rapid. By 1847, he is immersed in the specialized landscape training of Haushofer, a period that lasts until 1857.

Alpine Light and Bohemian Earth

The scenery changes as his travels expand. The summer of 1851 brings him to the Austrian Alps. He returns to Prague with studies that form the basis for color-rich mountain scenes. These works capture the atmosphere of high altitudes, such as the Tyrolean Feast.

His gaze eventually turns back toward his home terrain. The mountains of the Krkonoše, Šumava, and Jizera become frequent subjects. He moves through the valleys of Czech rivers, documenting the natural world with a growing sense of typification. His later years in the 1860s see a shift from broad Alpine vistas to capturing the essential, domestic features of the Czech landscape.

Notable works include:

• Landscape around the Elbe
• Gossau Lake
• Holná pond (purchased by Emperor Ferdinand I of Austria)
• Plökenstein Lake in Bohemian Forest
• Rainy weather in the Alps
• Summer Afternoon in the Hills by the River Jizera

A Life of Labor and Illustration

The demands of supporting a large family drive a relentless work ethic. Bubák balances the brush with the pen and the lectern. Between 1858 and 1865, he teaches drawing at the Prague Trade Academy. Later, from 1865 to 1868, he holds a position at a high school for girls in Prague.

His illustrations find a home in popular periodicals. He contributes to Květy and Světozor magazines, rendering scenes such as the castle in Strakonice and Letohrádek Hvězda. This period of intense productivity is met with physical decline. In the summer of 1868, tuberculosis takes hold. He dies in Prague on 6 March 1870.