Josef Čapek: Nothing Incomprehensible, Nothing Untrue

The artist and writer Josef Čapek (1887-1945) is one of the most important figures in Czech modern avant-garde art. Alongside his collaboration with his brother Karel, his own independent work is also important. His oeuvre ranged from fine art and literature to theatre and stage design. After Hitler came to power, Josef Čapek reacted to the new political situation, publishing drawings from a series entitled In the Shadow of Fascism and making his opposition to the Nazi regime clear. On 1 September 1939 he was arrested by the Gestapo and imprisoned. Throughout the war he passed through a number of concentration camps. All indications are that he died shortly before the liberation of Bergen-Belsen.