“... Yet form stands at the beginning of all creation, as the manifestation of creative will, a sign posited by Man against Nature, albeit in concordance with its laws.” Václav Vilém Štech, 1912

“The most beautiful case is crystallization: here the blending force (the crystallizing force) is so much more powerful compared to mass that – it may almost be said – the mass of matter has no influence on crystallization.” Pavel Janák, 1912

“There is still no answer to the question about the appearance that modern forms should have; for the time being, we only sense their nature and specific taste, still hidden in the depths of modern-day life.” Vlastislav Hofman, 1912

“Foreign countries find this Czech art “peculiar”, “Slavic”, while at home it continues to be dispelled from the nation and called non-Czech. Even so, this is a manifestation of the growing power of intrinsic national energy.” Pavel Janák/ 1913-1914

The permanent exhibition of the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague presents Czech Cubism as a style that conceptually combines fine art, applied arts and architecture. The display of furniture suites and individual pieces, together with accessory furnishings and objects made of ceramic, glass and metals offers an overview of the foremost creative achievements of Czech Cubism’s key exponents. Represented are architects and designers Pavel Janák, Josef Gočár, Josef Chochol, Vlastislav Hofman, Otakar Novotný and František Kysela. Their works are complemented by Cubist paintings by Emil Filla, Bohumil Kubišta, Josef Čapek and Václav Špála, and sculptures by Otto Gutfreund. A screening of contemporary and period photographs featuring Prague‘s Cubist and Rondo-Cubist buildings and designs documents the influence of Cubism on architecture.

In the interactive zone, visitors are welcome to sit in replicas of Cubist chairs. An ordinary chair or a precious object for display? is the name of worksheets that invite visitors to explore seating furniture from unusual viewpoints. 

The exhibition is accompanied by a printed guidebook and a map of Prague’s Cubist architecture that are available on the exhibition premises or can be downloaded from this website.  

The tablets provide interactive information, such as a timeline of events, profiles of prominent figures of Cubism, some critical reviews and caricatures of the time, archival photos of exhibitions held by the Group of Fine Artists, and products of the Prague Art Workshops and the Artěl art cooperative.

The House at the Black Madonna is the first Cubist structure in Prague and was built as a department store in 1911–1912 after plans by Josef Gočár. In 2010, the building was included on the List of National Cultural Monuments of the Czech Republic. A copy of a Baroque statuette of the Black Madonna from the original house adorns the corner of the building, giving it its name.