Josef Lada (born 17 December 1887 in Hrusice, Bohemia – 14 December 1957 in Prague, buried at Olšany Cemetery) was a Czech painter, illustrator, cartoonist and writer. Pioneer of the Czech comicbook tradition and founder of the “Czech modern fairytale” genre. He is considered one of the greatest Czech artists of all times – which is also what the world-famous Pablo Picasso had claimed him to be. He is best known for his children’s books and he is best known as the illustrator of Jaroslav Hašek's World War I novel The Good Soldier Švejk,.
He’s an author of over 15000 illustrations (both colour and black and white) and more than 600 paintings. The main themes and motives of his work include the following; home village Hrusice, water goblins and sprites, night watchmen, pub fights and the traditional pig-slaughter.
Life & Work
Only a very few artists have managed to produce such an incredible variety of work compared to that of Josef Lada. Be it his paintings, illustrations, cartoons or pieces of writing – vast majority of anything he’s ever done is of an exceptional quality.
Despite being entirely self-taught, Josef Lada had managed to work his way through to the top and earned his position among the most respected artists in Czechoslovakia. No art critic would surely doubt that today. Lada’s work has become one of the Czech national trademarks and its popularity (among anyone aged 3 and up)doesn’t seem to be declining.Since new pieces of work get discovered almost every year, the total number of his paintings is unknown. The last count shows, however, that this number is closer to 600 rather than 400 (which is what the previous official estimate stated).
The amount of his illustrations is then greater still. Again, this number isn’t exactbut it might very well be over 15000 pieces of work (black and white or colour) published in variousfiction books, newspapers and magazines.Cartoons, including political satire, represent a very significant part of Lada´s production. Despite being over 100 years old now, most of these sketches are still very popular (and relevant) today. Lada is definitely one of the founders of the Czech cartoon and comic book tradition. The best example of his “illustrations for adults” is clearly the world-famous drawings to complement the work of Jaroslav Hašek – especially his novel “The Good Soldier Švejk”.In combination with Lada’s illustrations, the text represents a genius piece of writing that is still getting published all over the world today. Josef Lada has made his mark as a writer as well. You can learn everything about his life and work in “The Chronicle of my Life”. He’s also written some of the best Czech fairy tales such as “Mikeš – The Adventures of the Talking Cat”, “Cunning Godmother Fox” or “Bogeyman and Water Sprites”. He’s obviously illustrated books of other authors as well. His work for writers such as Jiří Horák, Jan Drda, K. J. Erben or Božena Němcová is especially well known. When it comes to Czech literature for children, Josef Lada was without a doubt one of the greatest illustrators of all times.
It will soon be 140 years since Lada’s birth and the 70th anniversary of his death. Over the years, his unique work has become an inseparable part of the Czech cultural heritage. New editions of his books are still in great demand, people use the typical Lada calendars, diaries and notebooks, sending out Lada’s Christmas cards has become an absolute must for the majority of Czech families.Both children and adults love his timeless fairy tales and anyone who visits his art exhibitions is immediately taken to the magical world of a humble boy from Hrusice.
Books in translation
Josef Lada (author of text and illustration): Mikeš
German translation: Odfried Preussler - Kater Mikesch. Publication date 1936, publisher Verlagsauerlaender
English translation: Renata Symonds - Purrkin the talking cat. Publication date 1966, publisher Harrap
Josef Lada (author of text and illustration): O chytré kmotře lišce
Japan translation: The story of a fox. Publication date 1966 publisher Fukuinkan Shoten
Korean translation: The story of a fox. Publication date 1998, publisher BIR Publishing Co., Ltd.
Interesting facts
The Josef Lada and Alena Ladová memorial museum is placed in Lada’s former house in Hrusice. It was first open in June 1986
There is an asteroid named Josef Lada (17625, 1996 AY1). It was discovered by P. Pravec and L. Šarounová from the Onřejov observatory, January 14th 1996.
Josef Lada’s father was a shoemaker. At the age of one, little Josef fell over in his workroom and managed to hurt himself so unfortunately that he permanently lost sight in his right eye.
Josef Lada was the youngest of four children. He had a brother named František and two sisters, Antonie and Marie.
Lada’s famous cut out Nativity scene got published 35 times.
To this day, there are 10 different versions of Lada’s colouring pages.
Each year 6 to 8 different calendars are published.
Poet and a Nobel Prize laureate Jaroslav Seifert complemeted Lada’s illustration by his verses in book “…” first published in 1956.
His single largest monograph got published in 2008 by Slovart publishers. In reissue in year 2016.
His books is currently mostly published by the following publishing houses: Albatros, Grada, Dialog, Euromedia, Fragment, Albi, Slovart or BMSS Start.
The book “Mikes”, translated into German by Otfried Preussler, got the Jugendbuchpreiss (book for young readers) award in 1963.
His illustrations to “Good soldier Svejk” set the main theme to the interior design of 22 Svejk restaurants located in cities all over the Czech Republic.
There’s so called “Lada’s Region”, an area surrounding his birthplace in central Bohemia, that draws upon the painters legacy and tries to remain active in reminding its visitors of his work.
Lada had cooperated with a number of magazines (both Czech and foreign) and his drawings are still frequently used to complement various articles or the work of other artists (including musicians). Posters, calendars, postage stamps, theatre props and backdrops, LP, MC, CD, VHS or DVD covers, mugs, glass, grocery products, toys… you name it. Everything features the artwork of Josef Lada.
He’d also cooperated with the Czech radio and TV producers in the making of various films (documentary, live action and animated movies) and TV series “Mikes”, “Cunning Godmother Fox”, “Bogeyman and Water Sprites”, “Nursery Rhymes”, “John and the Lamb”
To complement Jaroslav Hašek’s “Good Soldier Svejk”, Lada’s drawn over 1350 illustrations (both colour and black and white). New editions of this book still get published in many countries all over the world. The 1956 animated (puppet) version of the movie “Svejk” by Jiří Trnka is considered a treasure of the Czech cinematography.
JosefLada.cz, s.r.o. has also been working with his legacy and work since 2014. founded by Josef Lada's great-grandsons - Martin and Viktor
Memorial House of Josef Lada and his daughter Alena
In Hrusice village is museum which you can visit every day apart from Monday and Tuesday you can get a guide to take you through the exhibition, which is extremely popular among both kids and adults. You’ll learn everything about the life and work of the famous Czech painter, illustrator and writer Josef Lada the author of the legendary Mikes character and the creator of soldier Svejk’s unforgettable visual image.
Also, you’ll learn about his daughter Alena Ladová, who’s followed in her father’s footsteps and has become a well-known painter and a children’s books´ illustrator as well.
