National Gallery Prague seeks owner of Jan Zrzavý painting

The National Gallery Prague is seeking the current owner of a 1918 oil painting titled ‘Murder’ (Vražda) by the prominent Czech modernist artist Jan Zrzavý. The 40-by-40-centimeter work is believed to be in a private collection.

The gallery’s search is motivated by preparations for an upcoming exhibition scheduled for autumn 2027, which will explore the artistic connection between Zrzavý and Bohumil Kubišta. Curators consider the painting significant because it clearly demonstrates Kubišta’s influence on Zrzavý’s early development.

There are no indications that the artwork was stolen or illegally acquired; rather, the institution is attempting to establish contact to arrange a loan for the exhibition and secure permission for its reproduction in the accompanying catalog. The gallery has promised strict confidentiality regarding the identity of the owner.