Art & Literature

Czech culture has long been shaped by artists and thinkers. From Alfons Mucha’s sweeping Art Nouveau masterpieces to the surreal words of Franz Kafka. Explore Prague’s galleries, hidden bookshops, and literary corners with us. We connect art to place, and stories to streets — because the soul of a city often lives in its imagination.

Art That Moves Between Worlds

The Czech lands gave birth to the visual genius Alphonse Mucha, whose Art Nouveau style became a global phenomenon. His graceful posters and stained glass (look for them in St. Vitus Cathedral!) reflect the Czech spirit — elegant yet strong, modern yet rooted in folklore.

In the 20th century, Czech modernism and surrealism flourished. Artists like Toyen and Josef Čapek (who, fun fact, coined the word “robot”) explored identity, rebellion, and imagination — often under the threat of censorship. Today, Prague’s DOX Centre for Contemporary Art continues that legacy with bold exhibitions and thought-provoking installations.

Stories That Define a Nation

Czech literature is both deeply philosophical and sharply witty. Franz Kafka, born in Prague, captured the absurdity of modern life in haunting works like The Trial and The Metamorphosis. A walk through the Kafka Museum reveals just how much the city shaped his strange and brilliant mind.

Later came Karel Čapek, a visionary playwright and novelist, who explored science, ethics, and politics — and whose play R.U.R. gave the world the term “robot.”
And let’s not forget Václav Havel — playwright, dissident, and eventually president — whose words helped dismantle dictatorship through theater and truth.

From medieval illuminated manuscripts to underground samizdat publishing under communism, Czech literature has always been a tool for resistance, reflection, and imagination.

To understand Prague, is to listen to its poets and painters, its rebels and dreamers.