Devětsil

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Cover of ReD magazine

The Devětsil was an association of Czech avant-garde artists, founded in 1920 in Prague. From 1923 on, there was also an active group in Brno. The movement discontinued its activities in 1930 (1927 in Brno).

Founded as U. S. Devětsil (Umělecký Svaz Devětsil - Artistic Federation "Butterbur"), its name was changed serval times, from 1925 stabilized on Svaz moderní kultury Devětsil (Union of modern culture Devětsil).

The artistic output of its members was varied, but typically focused on magic realism, proletkult, and, beginning in 1923, poetism, an artistic program formulated by Vítězslav Nezval and Karel Teige.

The group was very active in organizing the Czech art scene of the period. Members published serval art magazines - ReD (Revue Devětsilu), Disk and Pásmo, as well as occasional anthologies (most importantly Devětsil and Život) and organized serval exhibitions.

For the most part, Devětsil artists produced poetry and illustration, but they also made contributions to many other art forms, including sculpture, film and even calligraphy.

[edit] Significant Members

Butterbur, a robust plant with thick, creeping underground rhizomes and large Rhubarb-like leaves. Devětsil, the Czech name of the plant, literally translates to nine forces.

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