Friday, February 22, 2008

Drink Art: Absinthe Drinker by Viktor Oliva


Drink Art is a regular feature of Lyke2Drink that looks at famous works of art depicting men and women enjoying life and drink.

Absinthe Drinker
Viktor Oliva
Czech, (1861-1928)

Viktor Oliva, an illustrator and painter, attended the Prague Academy of Art and the Munich Academy. He is mainly recognized for his Art Nouveau style work.

His most famous painting the Absinthe Drinker hangs in the Cafe Slavia in Prague, Czech Republic, where Oliva spent many days. Oliva discovered absinthe while in Paris, living and drinking among other artists. The ghostly green visage in the painting brings to life the alleged mind-altering qualities of the absinthe of the day.

After returning to Prague he became the art director at a leading magazine and also was commissioned to paint the ceilings of several buildings in Bohemia.
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2 comments:

  1. Anonymous3/30/2008 07:27:00 PM

    I am looking for this picture poster
    for a long time.
    viktor oliva painted this picture
    in the restaurant slavia in prague.
    where can i buy this poster.??
    luise

    ReplyDelete
  2. Anonymous1/12/2009 02:55:00 PM

    A friend of mine, too. I found it for her at
    http://www.zazzle.com/viktor_oliva_absinthe_drinker_poster_print-228476970474663367
    Hope I could help.

    ReplyDelete