The Life and Education of Josef Schusser
Born in Choltice, Czech Republic, Josef Schusser began his professional life working as a bookseller at the "Grégor and Dattl" bookstore in Prague. His formal artistic journey commenced when he studied figurative painting at the Prague Academy of Fine Arts under Professor Vojtěch Hynais between 1893 and 1897. Following his graduation, he traveled to Munich to refine his skills at the art academy under Professor J. C. Herterich.
Schusser’s professional life was deeply intertwined with the artistic community of Prague. He was a member of the Mánes Association of Visual Artists from 1896 to 1900, serving as an executive and later as a responsible editor for Volné směry. In 1902, he began a long tenure as a teacher at the Prague School of Applied Arts, where he served as a professor of general painting from 1916 to 1927, specializing in figurative and ornamental drawing and painting.
Artistic Focus and Notable Works
The oeuvre of Josef Schusser is characterized by a diverse range of subjects, including:
His portraiture included subjects such as Prince Jiří Lobkowicz, composer Ludvík Lošťák, and violinist Jan Kubelík. Among his recognized works are Lullaby, Lady with a Red Parasol, Night, Summer Night's Dream, Lady in a Boat, and Old Woman's Head. His later works, such as Dandelions and Forest Idyl, alongside his still lifes, suggest a movement toward an Old Master approach to painting.
